UCSB excited for first regional bid since 2001

UCSB kept believing and winning three-game series’. A 10-3 finish sparked by Joey Epperson’s walk-off homer on May 5 against UC Irvine convinced the NCAA Committee to give the Gauchos a regional berth.

For the first time since 2001, UCSB qualified for the playoffs and will open up the Corvallis, Oregon Region against Texas A&M on Friday at noon. Host Oregon State and UT San Antonio are the other two teams in this regional.

The Gauchos(34-23) were most likely the last at-large schools picked for this 64-team tournament. Santa Barbara feels like they are hot and could do some damage in this double-elimination format.