The Schedule
No. 1 UCLA
Tuesday, March 4 at 5:30 p.m. at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium
All-time record vs. the Bruins: 38-56-1
No. 25 Oregon State
Friday, March 6 at 5:35 p.m. at Goss Stadium in Corvallis, Ore.
Saturday, March 7 at 4:05 p.m. at Goss Stadium in Corvallis, Ore.
Sunday, March 8 at 12:05 p.m. at Goss Stadium in Corvallis, Ore.
All-time record vs. the Beavers: 10-16-1
Projected Starting Pitchers
Tuesday Game 1: RHP JD Callahan vs RHP Jared Karros
Friday Game 1: TBA vs TBA
Saturday Game 2: TBA vs TBA
Sunday Game 3: TBA vs TBA
Gauchos on the Air
Tuesday night's battle with the No. 1 UCLA will be streamed live on Big West TV with Gerry Fall and Bob Brontsema. All three games with the Beavers in Corvallis, Ore. will be viewable via Pac-12 Networks in addition to a live audio-only stream with Kevin Cannon.
Current Streaks
Marcos Castanon – Has reached base safely in all 11 games, 7 game hit streak
Christian Kirtley – 9 game hit streak (longest this season)
Jason Willow – 8 game hit streak
Cole Cummings – Has reached base safely in 9 straight games
Team – 4 straight wins, have out-hit their opponents in 4 straight games
No. 30
After a perfect 4-0 outing last week, the Gauchos have been named to their first poll of the regular season. Collegiate Baseball listed UCSB as No. 30 in the country, Monday morning (3/2/20), giving the team its first ranking since the preseason.
This same poll listed incoming UCLA as the top team in the NCAA.
The Man of Steele
Sophomore outfielder Steele Ledford etched his name into the Gaucho history books this past weekend notching a record tying three doubles in UCSB's 15-1 victory over UIC. He becomes the 10th Gaucho to accomplish the feat and is the first to do so since Robby Nesovic in 2014.
Torra Garners National Honors
On Monday, February 24th Collegiate Baseball released its weekly National Players of the Week award naming junior southpaw Zach Torra to its ranks. Torra earned the nod after a stunning performance just a few days prior where he fanned 13 Abilene Christian batters in six innings of work. He would earn his first NCAA win allowing just two hits and a run and came up just three short of the all-time single game strikeout record.
The Pitching Pair
Many Gauchos that have graced the mound this season have found success, especially sophomore Michael McGreevy and junior Zach Torra. They are ranked second and third, respectively, in ERA in the Big West with McGreevy notching an 0.41 and Torra turning in a 0.47. Torra leads the conference in strikeouts (32) and is third in opponent batting average (.115).
All three of UCSB's weekend pitchers (McGreevy, Torra, and Rodney Boone) are ranked top-7 in the conference in opponent batting average.
Take a Seat
Pitching has been key in the team's hot start as the Gauchos lead the Big West in team ERA (2.05) opponent batting average (.163), runs allowed (26), and hits allowed (58). They also rank second in strikeouts having fanned 126 batters already this season.
Down Goes Cal
UCSB is slated to face a trio of Pac-12 schools and the first matchup with Cal went in the Gauchos' favor 17-7 on Monday, February 17th. Despite trailing 6-2 early, UCSB fought and chipped away at the Golden Bear lead and behind an eight-run 5th inning was able to surmount the gap on the scoreboard. The team finished with three doubles, 16 hits, and 15 RBI.
Sliding into Home
The Gauchos have a very favorable schedule this year that features 31 games held at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. This includes a seven-game home stint from March 10th, to March 22nd. In all the UCSB will play 12 of its 16 March matchups at home.
Let There Be Light
The February 17th home opener with the Golden Bears was the debut of the new stadium lights installed at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium this past summer, and the first ever night game hosted at UCSB. The Gauchos have scheduled a total of 23 night games this season on their home turf.
Big West Preseason Poll
Despite losing several key players to the MLB after a historical 2019 season, the Gauchos were still tabbed to finish in the top half of the conference in the 2020 Big West Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. UCSB came in at 4th place in the nine-team conference collecting 55 points and one first-place vote.
Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll
UCSB came in as the 27th ranked team in the 2020 Collegiate Baseball's Fabulous 40 NCAA Division I Pre-Season Poll, announced in December of 2019. They trailed only 26th ranked Cal State Fullerton making the Gauchos the second-highest ranked Big West team.
Pitching Pair Garners Preseason All-American Status
Sophomore southpaw Rodney Boone and sophomore right-hander Michael McGreevy were named to the 2020 Preseason All-American Third Team by Collegiate Baseball, announced in December of 2019.
Boone, the reigning Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year, figures to be the ace of the staff as a sophomore following an exceptional debut campaign that saw the lefty go 8-0 in 14 starts with a 2.78 ERA as the Sunday starter. With 80 strikeouts in 81.0 innings pitched, the Orange, Calif. native held hitters to a .204 batting average and earned a host of postseason accolades. In addition to being a Second Team All-Big West selection, Boone was selected as a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game and Baseball America.
Following suit with a bevy of postseason accolades after a fantastic freshman campaign was sophomore McGreevy, who joins Boone as a Third Team Preseason All-American. The First Team All-Big West selection and Freshman All-American was one of the most reliable arms in the bullpen for UCSB, making a team-high 29 appearances while leading the Gauchos with a 1.94 ERA. Batters hit just .234 against him and he recorded 53 strikeouts in 60.1 innings pitched, picking up six saves along the way with a 5-1 record.
