SANTA BARBARA —
The stadium lights are in place, along with the new turf, the portable bleachers just installed behind the outfield wall, and the excitement all around town. UC Santa Barbara hosts an NCAA baseball regional tournament for the first time this weekend, and the school expects to set an attendance record.
“I wish we had more seats,” UCSB coach Andrew Checketts said.
The Gauchos are riding a 14-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the nation. They have not lost at home all season. They open play Friday against Fresno State, and Bulldogs coach Ryan Overland calls the Gauchos “probably a top 10 team” in the country.