UCSB drew San Diego State as its first-round opponent in the NCAA Baseball Tournament when the 64-team field was announced Monday morning.
The Gauchos will host the Aztecs, USC and Virginia in the four-team UCSB regional at Lake Elsinore’s minor league ballpark, the Diamond, beginning Friday.
This is the first time UCSB has been named a regional host and the second time in three years it’s playing in the NCAA Tournament. The Gauchos are having one of the best seasons in program history. They went 40-15-1 in the regular season, finished second in the Big West and had RPI as high as No. 11.
With a chance to be awarded one of the 16 regional host sites, UCSB last week secured the home stadium of the San Diego Padres Class-A affiliate, Lake Elsinore Storm. UCSB’s on-campus facility, Caesar Uyesaka Stadium, did not meet NCAA standards as a host site.
In Friday’s opening doubleheader of the double-elimination regional, No. 2 USC (37-19) takes on third-seeded Virginia (34-22) at 3 p.m., and top-seeded UCSB (40-15-1) plays No. 4 San Diego State (40-21) at 7 p.m. Both games are scheduled to be aired on ESPN3.
The regional will continue with doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, with times to be announced. If necessary, a regional final would be played on Monday.
San Diego State, which is actually closer in distance to Lake Elsinore, is coming off winning the Mountain West Conference Tournament championship.
USC is enjoying its best season since 2001. The Trojans finished in a three-way tie in the Pac-12 with Arizona State and Cal at 18-12. The team has two local players: relief pitchers Jeff Paschke (Santa Barbara High) and Tyler Gilbert (SBCC).
Virginia comes cross country after suffering three straight losses in pool play of the ACC Tournament. The Cavaliers went 15-15 in ACC regular-season play.
UCLA was picked as the overall No. 1 seed in the tournament. The Bruins, College World Series champions in 2013, and Cal State Fullerton are also hosting four-team regionals.
Congrats on 40 wins and a great season! All the best and hope you get to Omaha!
Come on UCSB and Athletic Dept. It’s the 21st Century. You have a top notch team/program, get to host a regional and its 3 hours away in Lake Elsinore? You’re a D1 program in the Big West Conference. Get a better field & stadium, with lights and bathrooms!