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AUSTIN, Texas -- Big West regular-season co-champion UC Santa Barbara defeated Tarleton State by a final score of 9-5 to stave off elimination in the 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship, Sunday at Texas’ UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
 
With the win, the Gauchos improved to 40-19 overall and advance to the final games of the Austin regional against host Texas, Sunday, May 31 at 3 p.m. PT. UCSB will need to win two games against the Longhorns to advance to the Super Regional round of the national tournament. The Texans finish their 2026 campaign as the WAC champions with a 38-21 overall record.
 
Gaucho starter Nathan Aceves improved to 4-3 on the season, throwing six innings of two-run ball, collecting four strikeouts. UCSB first baseman Cole Kosciusko went 4-for-5 with one RBI and three runs. Designated hitter William Vasseur hit 3-for-5 with two runs. Center fielder Rowan Kelly compiled one hit, two runs and four RBI.
 
The Gauchos didn’t waste any time lighting the scoreboard, scoring two runs in each of the first two innings. In the top of the first, Kelly and Vasseur touched home plate on a throwing error. Back-to-back home runs from Kosciusko and Noah Karliner gave UCSB a 4-0 lead.
 
Tarleton State responded with one run in the bottom of the third, before the Gauchos answered with one of their own in the top of the fourth as Kosciusko scored on an RBI ground out from Kelly.
 
The Texans cut the deficit to two, 5-3, with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. UC Santa Barbara plated four runs in the top of the eighth. Kelly hit a three-run home run and Nate Vargas laced an RBI double. Tarleton State didn’t go down without a fight, scoring twice in the bottom of the ninth, but the Gauchos were able to get the outs necessary to end the game.