Ok, I am new-ish to baseball. I was watching the game tonight, and assumed as host of regional and being 2-0 against a 2-1 opponent that we would be batting in the bottom of the inning? I have texted a few baseball fan friends and could not get an answer. Can anyone explain? I am sure I am missing something obvious and maybe covered already. But just risking the question. Curious how this all works.

For those wondering how the home team designation is decided in Regional play. pic.twitter.com/GBUWh6cEkI

— David Hood (@MDavidHood) June 2, 2024

This is from reddit, but it was from the NCAA rules too

For the initial regional rounds of the tournament, the higher seeded team is always the home team. Once the initial regional round is completed, the NCAA uses the following three step process:

Step 1) The team has been the home team fewer times during the tournament becomes the home team.

Step 2) If both teams were the home team the same number of times, count the number of times each team was the visiting team during the tournament. The team that was the visiting team more often during the tournament becomes the home team.

Step 3) If both teams were the home team and visiting team the same number of times and the teams met previously during the tournament, the visitor in the immediately preceding game between the two teams becomes the home team.

Step 4) If both teams were the home team and visiting team the same number of times and the teams did not previously meet during the tournament, the team that was the visitor in its most recent, preceding game becomes the home team.

Step 5) If both teams were the home team and visiting team the same number of times, the teams did not previously meet during the tournament, and both teams were the visitor (or home team) in their most recent, preceding game, then the home team is decided by a coin flip.

Thank you!