AUSTIN, Texas (Interstat) — Tarleton State faces UC Santa Barbara in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship on Friday, May 29, in a playoff game at a neutral site in Austin. The Texans (37-19) meet the Gauchos (38-18) with both teams looking to advance in the tournament.

Tarleton State enters the game on a high after a 21-11 rout of Sacramento State on May 23. Second baseman Slade McCloud led that victory, going 4-for-6 with a home run and five RBIs. Over his last 11 games, McCloud has collected multiple hits in seven contests, including three straight multi-hit performances entering Friday. He has driven in at least one run in five of his past six games.

The Texans have won five of their last six games, averaging 10.2 runs per game over that stretch. Their lineup has produced at least nine runs in four of those six contests, including a 15-4 win at Sacramento State and a 10-8 victory over Texas-Rio Grande Valley.

UC Santa Barbara comes off a 7-0 loss to UC San Diego on May 23, its second defeat in three games. However, the Gauchos have won eight of their last 11 overall and posted a 1.00 ERA over their last three wins. Relief pitcher Josh Jannicelli has been a key arm out of the bullpen. In his most recent appearance, he threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Over his last six outings covering 8 2/3 innings, Jannicelli has allowed just one earned run while striking out 12.

The Gauchos have relied on a strong pitching staff throughout the season, holding opponents to three or fewer runs in 16 of their 38 wins. Offensively, UC Santa Barbara has shown the ability to score in bunches, posting double-digit run totals in three of its last nine games, including a 15-5 win over UC Riverside on May 15.

The teams have not faced each other this season. Friday’s game marks the first meeting between the Texans and Gauchos in the NCAA tournament.

The Interstat game simulator projects an 8-6 victory for Tarleton State.

First pitch is scheduled for later Friday. Weather conditions at game time were not immediately available.