UCSB Baseball fell in the championship game of the Santa Barbara Regional by a score of 3-0 on Sunday evening at the hands of the Oregon Ducks at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.
The loss ended a season where the Gauchos’ achievements included a Big West title, an undefeated regular season at home and hosting a regional at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium for the first time ever.
“Our guys gave a fantastic effort this year,” UCSB head coach Andrew Checketts said. “[I’m] really proud of what they did, what they accomplished, [and] what they overcame.
“We’re pretty grateful for each other and grateful for the opportunities. And always grateful to live in Santa Barbara.”
Kevin Seitter dazzled in his start for Oregon, throwing a complete game shutout in one of the best pitching performances in recent memory at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.
After a physically and emotionally exhausting win Sunday afternoon over the San Diego Toreros to advance to the championship matchup, the Gauchos’ tank ran empty as they fell to the Ducks for the second time in as many nights.
The wear-and-tear and depleted energy levels of the Gauchos were visible during UCSB’s fourth game in the span of 48 hours. The Gauchos recorded just four hits and advanced just one runner past first base all game en route to suffering their first shutout of the season.
Despite inconsistent offensive production, UCSB’s pitching was fantastic all weekend long.
“I thought the effort was fantastic from the mound. They were in character,” Checketts said. “We felt like we have one of the better [pitching] staffs out there and we performed like it this weekend.”
Matt Ager started on the mound for UCSB on Sunday night, his first start since April 7. In 4 ⅔ innings, Ager allowed two runs on two hits and two walks, striking out two as well.
Reed Moring and Frank Camarillo also pitched a combined 3 ⅓ innings for the Gauchos, with the former allowing one run.
The Ducks opened the scoring in the first inning. Mason Neville battled back from down 0-2 to draw a lead-off walk and advanced to second base on a Chase Meggers sacrifice bunt. Neville then scored from second base on Drew Smith’s single to left field.
Oregon was kept off the scoreboard later in the third inning when Jessada Brown leapt over the left-field wall to deny Neville a two-run home run with his second home-run robbery of the season.
The Ducks doubled their lead in the fifth inning. Bryce Boettcher advanced to second base on a wild pitch after drawing a two-out walk. Boettcher then scored from second base on Neville’s single up the middle.
Oregon expanded their lead to 3-0 in the seventh inning on a Jacob Walsh solo home run over the wall in right field.
UCSB fought until the last pitch of the ninth inning. With two outs and down to his last strike, Aaron Parker singled into left field and advanced to third base on Nick Oakley’s two-strike single into right field.
Representing the potential tying run, Jonah Sebring struck out to strand runners at the corners and closed the book on the Gauchos’ season.
Oregon advances to the College Station Super Regional to take on the Texas A&M Aggies for a spot in the College World Series.
With only Oakley and Mike Gutierrez graduating, Checketts will begin working on retaining the uber-talented core of his team, many of whom will be presented with opportunities to play professional baseball, as well as begin recruiting next year’s incoming class.
“Experience matters,” Checketts commented when asked what his team took away from the weekend. “We have a few guys out there [with postseason experience], but not a lot.
“You look over at the other dugout [Oregon], they’ve been to four regionals in a row. Every guy in their dugout has some of that experience. So the hope is that when we get an opportunity to come back and do this again, we have some experience in the dugout.”
Preparations for the 2025 season begin in the fall before the regular season begins in February.