2026 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos baseball team

American college baseball season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2026 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos baseball team is the team that represent the University of California, Santa Barbara during the 2026 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Gauchos play their home games at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium and are members of the Big West Conference. They are led by head coach Andrew Checketts in his fifteenth season as manager. The top five teams in the Big West Conference will play in the conference's postseason tournament, with the winner receiving the automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA tournament. UC Santa Barbara made the conference tournament, but went 1–2. However, they received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, and will play in the Austin Regional against Tarleton State in the opening round. The Gauchos ended up losing that game 5–11, and were relegated to the elimination bracket.[2] There, they faced Holy Cross. In their 15–1 win, Jackson Flora officially broke the UCSB single season strikeout record.[3] In their second elimination game, they faced Tarleton State once again, winning 9–5.[4] They then played Texas in their third straight elimination game. In it, they lost 4–6, officially ending their season.[5]

ConferenceBig West Conference
Record40–20 (22–8 Big West)
Headcoach
Associate headcoachMatt Fonteno (7th season)
Quick facts UC Santa Barbara Gauchos baseball, Big West regular season co-champions ...
2026 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos baseball
Big West regular season co-champions
ConferenceBig West Conference
Record40–20 (22–8 Big West)
Head coach
Associate head coachMatt Fonteno (7th season)
Assistant coachKyle Hunt (2nd season)
Pitching coachDylan Jones (7th season)
Home stadiumCaesar Uyesaka Stadium
Seasons
← 2025
2027 →
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More information Conf., Overall ...
2026 Big West Conference baseball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
UC Santa Barbara ‍†‍‍y 22–8 .73340–20 .667
Cal Poly ‍‍‡‍y 22–8 .73339–22 .639
UC San Diego  ‍‍‍ 18–12 .60027–28 .491
Hawai'i  ‍‍‍ 16–14 .53327–23 .540
Cal State Fullerton  ‍‍‍ 15–15 .50024–32 .429
UC Irvine  ‍‍‍ 14–16 .46725–27 .481
UC Davis  ‍‍‍ 14–16 .46726–28 .481
Cal State Northridge  ‍‍‍ 12–18 .40025–28 .472
Cal State Bakersfield  ‍‍‍ 11–19 .36721–32 .396
Long Beach State  ‍‍‍ 11–19 .36717–35 .327
UC Riverside  ‍‍‍ 10–20 .33315–37 .288
† – Conference champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of May 31, 2026[1]
Rankings from D1Baseball
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Previous Season

See also: 2025 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos baseball team

Last season, UC Santa Barbara finished with a 36–18 record, going 16–14 in the Big West, and finishing tied for fourth in the conference. They fell in the first round in an elimination game against Hawai'i, falling 2–6.[6] They did not receive an at-large bid to the 2025 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament, and finished the season unranked.

Preseason

Big West Preseason Poll & Team

The Big West Coaches' Poll and Team was released on February 6, 2026. UC Santa Barbara was predicted to finish first in the conference, and also had one player make the preseason team.[7]

More information Pos., Team ...
Coaches' Poll
Pos. Team Points
1UC Santa Barbara95 (5)
2Cal Poly89 (5)
3UC Irvine86 (1)
T-4Cal State Fullerton67
Hawai'i
6UC San Diego60
7Long Beach State41
8UC Davis40
9CSUN25
10Cal State Bakersfield22
11UC Riverside13
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More information Player, No. ...
Preseason Coaches' Team
Player No. Position Class
Jackson Flora2RHPJunior
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Personnel

Starters

More information Pos., No. ...
Lineup
Pos.No.Player.Year
C12Nate VargasSenior
1B6Nick HusovskyGraduate
2B25Cade GoldsteinFreshman
3B31Xavier EsquerRS Junior
SS5Jonathan MendezJunior
LF35Max StaggRS Sophomore
CF3Rowan KellySophomore
RF41Noah KarlinerGraduate
DH19Cole KosciuskoFreshman
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More information Day, No. ...
Weekend pitching rotation
DayNo.Player.Year
Friday2Jackson FloraJunior
Saturday20Nathan AcevesSophomore
Sunday17Kellan MontgomerySenior
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Roster

Source:[8]

More information Players, Coaches ...
2026 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos baseball team
PlayersCoaches
#Pos.NameB/THeightWeightYearHome town
1 OF Colin Beazizo L/L 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Lake Stevens, WA
2 RHP Jackson Flora R/R 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Pleasanton, CA
3 OF Rowan Kelly L/L 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) So Menlo Park, CA
5 INF Jonathan Mendez R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Los Angeles, CA
6 INF Nick Husovsky R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Gr Ramona, CA
7 LHP Cole Tryba L/L 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr Long Beach, CA
9 OF Jack Haferkamp R/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) RS Fr Carlsbad, CA
10 OF Liam Barrett L/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Mountain View, CA
12 C Nate Vargas L/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Sr Rocklin, CA
13 C Nico Libed R/R 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jr Chula Vista, CA
14 RHP Hudson Aber R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) RS Fr Danville, CA
15 LHP Nic Peterson L/L 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jr Tustin, CA
16 INF Corey Nunez R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Sr Torrance, CA
17 RHP Kellan Montgomery R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sr Santa Barbara, CA
19 UTL Cole Kosciusko L/L 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Sr Castro Valley, CA
20 RHP Nathan Aceves R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 220 lb (100 kg) So Huntington Beach, CA
21 LHP Peter Broughton L/L 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Fr Torrance, CA
22 LHP Chase Hoover L/L 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Santa Barbara, CA
23 C Braden Watson R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 230 lb (104 kg) RS Fr Peoria, AZ
24 LHP Van Froling L/L 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Sacramento, CA
25 UTL Cade Goldstein L/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Fr Calabasas, CA
26 INF William Vasseur R/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Sr Fort Collins, CO
27 RHP Josh Jannicelli R/R 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Santa Rosa, CA
28 RHP Raymond Olivas R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Stockton, CA
29 RHP Gavin Moran R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr La Puente, CA
31 INF Xavier Esquer R/R 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 190 lb (86 kg) RS Jr Palo Alto, CA
32 RHP Calvin Proskey R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jr Oak Park, IL
33 RHP Luke Bailey R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Fr San Diego, CA
34 RHP Stunner Gonzales R/R 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) So Carlsbad, CA
35 OF Max Stagg R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 215 lb (98 kg) RS So Adelaide, Australia
36 RHP Kole Laubach R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr San Jose, CA
37 C Ian Fernandez R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) So Napa, CA
38 INF Dawson Dines L/R 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) So Ripon, CA
39 OF Mitch Namie L/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Sr Mesa, AZ
41 OF Noah Karliner R/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Gr Huntington Beach, CA
44 RHP Kyle Pott R/R 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Elk Grove, CA
45 RHP AJ Krodel R/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jr Villa Park, CA
46 INF Ryan Severns R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Fontana, CA
49 INF Jake Johnson R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr San Diego, CA
50 INF Jordan Marian S/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Foothill Ranch, CA
51 RHP Tyler Walton R/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Fr Mission Hills, CA
53 INF Evan Thomas L/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Fallbrook, CA
55 LHP Donovann Jackson L/L 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sr Glendora, CA
Head coach

Andrew Checketts

Assistant coach(es)

Matt Fonteno
Dylan Jones
Kyle Hunt

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: February 19, 2026

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Schedule

Source:[9]

More information Legend ...
Legend
 Gauchos win
 Gauchos loss
 Postponement
BoldGauchos team member
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More information Regular Season (37–16), February (7–2) ...
2026 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos baseball game log (40–20)
Regular Season (37–16)
Postseason (3–4)
Austin Regional (2–2)
Date Time
(PST)		 TV Opponent Rank Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall NCAA Tournament Record
May 293:00 p.m.ESPN+vs Tarleton State (3)(2)UFCU Disch-Falk Field
Austin, Texas		5–11Davis (7–0)Proskey (0–1)Treto (8)6,83338–190–1
May 3011:00 a.m.ESPN+vs Holy Cross (4)(2)UFCU Disch-Falk Field15–1Flora (12–0)Lenahan (3–7)None6,63439–191–1
May 3110:00 a.m.ESPN+vs Tarleton State (3)(2)UFCU Disch-Falk Field9–5Aceves (4–3)Carter (0–2)None6,72040–192–1
May 313:00 p.m.ESPN+vs Texas (1)(2)UFCU Disch-Falk Field4–6Burns (1–0)Froling (2–3)Harrison (1)7,88440–202–2
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from D1Baseball. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Pacific.
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Notes

Awards

Preseason

National team

More information Player, No. ...
Preseason Perfect Game All-American First Team[10]
Player No. Position Class
Jackson Flora2RHPJunior
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More information Player, No. ...
Baseball America All-American First Team[11]
Player No. Position Class
Jackson Flora2RHPJunior
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More information Player, No. ...
Golden Spikes Award Watchlist[12]
Player No. Position Class
Jackson Flora2RHPJunior
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Rankings

Main article: 2026 NCAA Division I baseball rankings
More information Week, Poll ...
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
Coaches'[13]RVRV*RVRVRVRVRV——RVRV—RVRVRVRV
Baseball America[14]—————————————252323*
NCBWA†[15]RVRVRVRVRVRVRV—RVRVRVRVRVRVRVRV*
D1Baseball[16]————————————————
Perfect Game[17]2125242222———————————*
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† NCBWA ranks 30 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 25 teams weekly during the season.
* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

References

External links

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