IRVINE, Calif. – Perennial Big West baseball powers will square off in two ESPNU telecasts this spring.
 
The nationally-televised games feature the following teams:
 

• Saturday, April 6, 2024 | UC Santa Barbara at UC Irvine | 7 p.m. PT on ESPNU
• Saturday, April 27, 2024 | Cal State Fullerton at UC Santa Barbara | 7 p.m. PT on ESPNU

 
UC Santa Barbara has won four Big West titles in all and two of the last four under head coach Andrew Checketts. The Gauchos finished 35-20 a year ago. Pitchers Matt Ager and Hudson Barrett were named to D1Baseball's Preseason All-America First and Second Team, respectively, the second Preseason All-America nod for each of them. Ager was also named The Big West Preseason Pitcher of the Year by D1Baseball last week.
 
Ager notched 115 strikeouts a year ago over 92 1/3 innings, putting up a 3.42 ERA. After a summer spent with USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team, Ager is expected to be the Gauchos’ ace again in 2024. Barrett was named Big West Freshman Pitchers of the Year last season, leading all pitchers in ERA (1.92) and opposing batting average (.195). He also led all Big West freshmen with 82 strikeouts.
 
The UC Irvine will host UC Santa Barbara at Ciccerone Field at Anteater Ballpark on April 6. The Anteaters won The Big West in 2021 and figure to be in the thick of the race again in 2024. UCI finished 38-17 in 2023, with the fourth most wins on the West Coast and the second-best winning percentage.
 
First baseman Anthony Martinez led The Big West a year ago in batting average, on-base percentage, hits, RBI and at-bats on his way to earning Big West Freshman Field Player of the Year. Teammates Caden Kendle led the conference in runs, reaching base in 54 of 55 games, while Jo Oyama paced the league in stolen bases and triples.
 
Cal State Fullerton, winner of five of the last seven Big West titles, travels to Caesar Uyesaka Stadium on the campus of UC Santa Barbara on April 27. The Titans went 33-24 overall a year ago and 20-10 in Big West action. The Titans represented The Big West in postseason play as the league’s automatic qualifier after being picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll. In just his second season at the helm, Titans head coach Jason Dietrich led the 22-time Big West champions to their 41st post-season, including 18 trips to the College World Series and four national titles.

Titans right-hander Evan Yates garnered All-Big West Honorable Mention honors with a  2-2 record on the year with a 3.57 ERA in 15 appearances and 14 starts. Yates struck out 63 batters over 68 innings. 
 
ESPN’s expansive programming will cover over 160 baseball games across linear networks, with an additional 3,900+ games on digital platforms. Games aired on ESPN networks are available on the ESPN App, accessible on computers, smartphones, tablets and connected devices to fans who receive their video subscription through an authenticated provider.