Golden Bears Set to Battle Anteaters in First Road Series of 2026 Season

This weekend, the California Golden Bears baseball team will embark on its first road series of the 2026 season, heading to UC Irvine for a highly anticipated matchup. The three-game series kicks off on Friday night at Anteater Ballpark, with additional games scheduled for Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

Series Preview: UCLA vs. UC Irvine

California recently concluded a series against Santa Clara, where they dropped the final game and now sit at an even 2-2 record. In contrast, UC Irvine is riding high after sweeping Sacramento State 3-0 on the road. Tonight, the Anteaters will face San Diego State in their home opener before hosting the Bears this weekend.

Game Schedule

• Game 1

  • Date and Time: Friday, February 20, at 6:00 p.m. PT
  • Location: Cicerone Field at Anteater Stadium, Irvine, CA
  • Live Stream: ESPN+
  • Live Stats: Sidearm Stats

• Game 2

  • Date and Time: Saturday, February 21, at 1:00 p.m. PT
  • Location: Cicerone Field at Anteater Stadium, Irvine, CA
  • Live Stream: ESPN+
  • Live Stats: Sidearm Stats

• Game 3

  • Date and Time: Sunday, February 21, at 1:00 p.m. PT
  • Location: Cicerone Field at Anteater Stadium, Irvine, CA
  • Live Stream: ESPN+
  • Live Stats: Sidearm Stats

Promotional Highlights

Fans can also look forward to the 2026 Cal Baseball promotional schedule, which features themed days, giveaways, and discounts. Tickets for the season and individual games are available for purchase on CalBears.com.

Probable Pitchers

• Game 1: RHP Oliver de la Torre vs RHP Trevor Hansen
• Game 2: RHP Ethan Foley vs LHP Ricky Ojeda
• Game 3: RHP Gavin Eddy vs RHP Cade Castles

Historical Context

The Golden Bears and Anteaters have a competitive history, with UC Irvine holding a 19-16 edge in their all-time record against Cal. This weekend marks the first match-up since 2015, when Cal secured a 3-1 series victory at Evans Diamond. It will also be Cal’s first visit to Anteater Ballpark since 2013.

Dramatic Wins for the Golden Bears

Both of Cal’s victories this season have come in thrilling walk-off fashion during a doubleheader last weekend against Santa Clara. In a gripping first game, the Bears rallied from a 4-1 deficit to secure a 5-4 win with a walk-off double by junior transfer Hideki Prather. They repeated this success in the second game, as graduate transfer Daniel Murillo also hit a walk-off double, securing another crucial victory.

Impact of New Talent

The young Cal roster has been impressive, with newcomers contributing significantly. Freshmen and transfers accounted for 18 out of the 30 hits, scoring nine of the 15 runs and hitting most of their doubles. On the mound, first-year pitchers played a vital role, logging 15 of the total 33 innings pitched in the opening series.

Preseason Rankings and Expectations

D1Baseball’s preseason positions list highlights several Golden Bears, with Jacob French recognized as the 13th-ranked second baseman nationally, while Cade Campbell and Oliver de la Torre also earned rankings in their positions.

Looking Ahead: The 2026 Season

Head Coach Mike Neu begins his ninth season, having led Cal to winning campaigns in five of his first seven seasons. The current roster is dense with fresh talent, featuring 14 new pitchers and 14 position players, with many first-year Bears ready to make their mark.

Cal’s return to the ACC this year will present more daunting challenges, as the team aims to improve on its prior season, where they finished 9-21 in conference play but secured notable wins against nationally-ranked teams.

Stay Connected

For live updates and further coverage of the Golden Bears, follow Cal Baseball on social media platforms: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.