The Schedule
Pepperdine
Friday, February 26 at 1:30 PM at Eddy D. Field in Malibu, Calif.
Saturday, February 27 at 12:00 PM at Casear Uyesaka Stadium in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Saturday, February 27 at TBA (Game 2 of DH) at Casear Uyesaka Stadium in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Sunday, February 28 at 1:00 PM at Eddy D. Field in Malibu, Calif.
The Series
No. 8 UCSB faces off with Pepperdine in a four-game home-and-home series that begins and ends in Malibu, Calif. with a Saturday doubleheader at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. Pepperdine is out to a 1-2 start after losing a pair to Cal Baptist opening weekend. The Gauchos lead the all-time series with the Waves 69-67-3 with the last meeting coming in 2019.
Friday's series opener will be the first road test for the Gauchos this season.
Gauchos on the Air
Assistant Director of Baseball Operations Kevin Cannon will have the coverage all weekend for the Gauchos. Friday and Sunday's road contests will be available by audio stream on UCSBGauchos.com, and Saturday's doubleheader will be live streamed on BigWest.TV.
Additionally, a live stream of Friday and Sunday's road games will be available on the WCC Network.
Probable Starters
Fri: LHP Zach Torra (0-0, 4.91) vs. RHP Trevor Hinkel (0-1, 2.25)
Sat Game One: RHP Michael McGreevy (1-0, 3.60) vs. RHP Gunnar Groen (0-0, 3.86)
Sat Game Two: LHP Rodney Boone (1-0, 0.00) vs. TBA
Sun: RHP Corey Lewis (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Trevor Kniskern (0-1, 10.12)
O'Connor Named Big West Field Player of the Week
McClain O'Connor earned his first career Big West Field Player of the Week award after a phenomenal outing in the season opening series against Santa Clara.
The senior shortstop posted a 4-for-9 performance with four runs, seven RBI, and a stolen base. Each of his four hits went for extra bases notching two doubles, a triple, and a 413 ft. home run, giving him a 1.222 slugging percentage. He also posted a .444 batting average with a .462 on-base percentage.
He seemed to improve with every game collecting the doubles in game one, the triple in game two, and the homer in the final game.
He's BacK
After missing the 2020 season due to recovering from Tommy John surgery, closer Christopher Troye did not miss a step in his first return to the mound in 632 days. The righty was dominant striking out the side in the ninth inning of game three vs. Santa Clara to earn his first career save and hand the Gauchos the series the win.
Current Rankings
Collegiate Baseball - #8
D1Baseball - #9
USA Today - #13
NCBWA - #14
College Baseball Nation - #17
Baseball America - #19
Current Streaks
Marcos Castanon – Three-game hit streak
McClain O'Connor – Three-game hit streak
Cole Cummings – Three-game hit streak
Nick Vogt – Has reached base in three straight games
Big West Preseason Poll
On February 10, 2021, the No. 8 Gauchos were picked to win the 2021 Big West Conference title in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll. This is the first time in program history that UCSB team has topped the poll, earning 10 total first place votes and a total 119 points. It breaks a 12-year streak that was held by Cal State Fullerton.
Preseason Rankings
The Gauchos have earned Top-25 preseason rankings from several media outlets prior to Opening Day, including the program's highest-ever at No. 8.
Collegiate Baseball - #8
Perfect Game - #10
D1Baseball - #11
USA Today - #13
National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) - #14
College Baseball Nation - #17
Baseball America - #21
Run it Back
Because the NCAA allowed for all players on 2020 rosters to return for the 2021 season because of the COVID-19 cancellation, the Gauchos bring back nearly every player from a team that was 13-2 and coming off of a three-game road sweep of nationally-ranked Oregon State. In addition, UCSB posted a win over No. 1 UCLA and was a perfect 5-0 against the Pac 12. The team will take an eight-game win streak into the start of 2021.
The 2020 Gauchos were led by a stellar pitching staff that sported a 1.84 team ERA, tied with Vanderbilt tops in the category on a national level.
Torra Torches
Junior lefty Zach Torra garnered a pair of preseason All-American nods in the past few months from both Collegiate Baseball and the NCBWA. These preseason awards now go on a resume that already boasts a third-team All-American award from Collegiate Baseball at the end of last season.
Torra was spectacular in his first season at UCSB. He was 3-0 in his four starts, allowing just one run in 25.1 innings for a 0.36 ERA. In fact, in his 25.1 innings, the Santa Ynez, Calif., native allowed a mere 11 hits while striking out 39, an average of 13.86 per 9.0 innings of work. Torra recorded a 0.79 WHIP. His wins came against Abilene Christian (6.0 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 13 strikeouts, 2 walks), Illinois-Chicago (7.0 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 12 strikeouts, 2 walks) and at Oregon State (6.1 IP, 4 hits, 0 runs, 7 strikeouts, 2 walks). His only non-decision came at Sacramento State (6.0 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 7 strikeouts, 3 walks).
Boone Earns Back-to-Back Preseason All-American Nods
For the second straight season, sophomore southpaw Rodney Boone has garnered preseason All-American status. This time it is Perfectgame.org that sees the Gaucho pitcher having yet another strong season listing him to the second team.
In 2020 Boone went 2-1 with a 2.53 ERA, recording 31 strikeouts in 21.1 innings. He still stands as reigning Big West Freshman of the Year after an incredible debut season in 2019 where he was named a Freshman All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game and Baseball America.
McGreevy Named to USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Watch List
USA Baseball released its 55-player preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list on February 18, 2021, naming sophomore right-hander Michael McGreevy to its ranks. The Golden Spike award is given to the top amateur baseball player in the country each year. McGreevy is the first Gaucho to ever be named to the preseason list.
McGreevy, named a Freshman All-American in 2019, had a solid outing in 2020 leading the team with 27.1 innings pitched. He went 2-0 with a WHIP of 0.9523 and an ERA of 0.99 while striking out 26.
D1Baseball Preseason Power Rankings
Prior to Opening Day, D1Baseball listed several Gauchos in its preseason power rankings:
Top 150 Starting Pitchers
Michael McGreevy - #13
Zach Torra - #28
Rodney Boone - #54
Top 50 Relief Pitchers
Conner Roberts - #36
Christopher Troye - #39
D1Baseball Postseason Prediction
D1Baseball showed even more praise for this year's Gaucho team in its Preseason Field of 64, which was announced on February 18, 2021. The source predicts that the Gauchos will host a 2021 NCAA Regional as the 11th seed, with San Diego State, Arizona State, and Kent State rounding out the competition.
Sliding into Home
The Gauchos have a very favorable schedule this year that features 34 games held at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. This includes two different eight-game stretches during both non-conference and Big West play. The Gauchos play 13 of their first 15 at home.
UCSB vs Pac 12
After going a perfect 5-0 against Pac-12 teams last year, UCSB has scheduled another seven games against the Power Five. The Gauchos host Oregon in a four-game series beginning on March 5, before playing a home-and-home with UCLA starting on May 14.
