UCSB’s baseball team has loaded up its 2014 schedule with some powerhouse programs next season.
The Gauchos have nonconference home dates with North Carolina State, Wichita State and defending national champion UCLA. The road schedule includes games against UCLA, Arizona, Fresno State and USF.
“We feel it is important to put together a schedule that is demanding of our players,” UCSB coach Andrew Checketts said. “Playing a competitive non-conference schedule will help us prepare for a very exciting and challenging Big West Conference.”
The Gauchos will open the season on Feb. 14 with a three-game set against North Carolina State, which was a participant in the 2013 World Series. They’ll play a home-and-home series with UCLA, traveling to Westwood on Feb. 25 before welcoming the Bruins on Apr. 29. The Gauchos travel to the University of Arizona from Mar. 7-9 for a tournament featuring the 2012 national champion Wildcats and 2013 national champion runners-up Mississippi State.
Wichita State comes to Santa Barbara on March 14.
Marquee road matchups include a Mar. 25 game at 2008 national champ Fresno State as well as Big West series against regional qualifiers Cal Poly (Apr. 4-6) and San Francisco (May 16-18).
For the entire 2014 baseball schedule, click here.
