Seitter leads Oregon to 3-0 victory over UC Santa Barbara for regional title, spot in super regional

In the exciting conclusion of the NCAA Division I Baseball Regional tournament held at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium in Santa Barbara, California, the Oregon Ducks (40-18) secured their place in the Super Regionals with a dominating performance against the host team, the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (37-22), who were the 14th national seed. The decisive game took place on Sunday, May 29, 2023.

The Ducks' starting pitcher, Kevin Seitter, delivered an impressive outing, throwing a complete-game shutout, allowing only four hits while striking out six batters. His commanding performance on the mound was crucial as the game remained scoreless until the bottom of the first inning when the Ducks finally broke through.

The first inning began with leadoff batter Mason Neville drawing a walk. Neville then advanced to second base on a well-executed sacrifice bunt by Chase Meggers. Drew Smith followed up with a clutch single to left field, scoring Neville from second base, giving the Ducks an early 1-0 lead.

The rest of the game saw Seitter continuing his masterful pitching, retiring the Gauchos' batters one after another. The Ducks' defense also played solidly behind him, making crucial plays to keep the shutout intact.

The victory marked the third consecutive win for the Ducks in the double-elimination tournament, earning them the Regional Championship title. With this achievement, they secured their spot in the Super Regionals, where they will face the winner of the Stanford Regional.

The Ducks' impressive performance throughout the tournament demonstrated their resilience and determination, as they overcame challenges and ultimately emerged victorious against the formidable UC Santa Barbara squad. The Super Regionals will be an exciting next step for this talented team as they continue their pursuit of the College World Series title.