They began their postseason journey in the Nashville Regional, hosted by Vanderbilt, and advanced by defeating some tough opponents.
They went on to win the Louisville Super Regional, stunning the heavily favored Louisville Cardinals in a thrilling series. 4. CollegeWorldSeries(CWS): For the first time in program history, UC Santa Barbara reached the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
They had a notable upset victory against Miami in the CWS opener.
Their season ended with losses to eventual champion Coastal Carolina and Arizona.
Notable Players
The 2016 team featured several standout players who played key roles in their success:
Shana Bieber: A standout pitcher who later went on to become a star in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Cleveland Guardians.
AustinBush: Known for his power hitting and key contributions throughout the season.
ClayFisher: A reliable shortstop and leader on the field.
Legacy
The 2016 Gauchos are remembered for their remarkable postseason run and for putting UC Santa Barbara baseball on the national map. Their performance in the College World Series was a defining moment for the program and showcased their resilience and talent against some of the nations best teams.
^ Collegiate Baseball ranked 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranked 30 teams weekly during the season. † NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 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.