| Time (PDT) | WSU Starter | KSU ProbableStarter | GameTracker | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRIDAY | 5:05 p.m. |
RH Chad Arnold (5-3, 3.47 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 71 K, 98 2/3 IP) | LH Kyle Hunter (9-2, 4.50 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 52 K, 78 IP) | Here |
The game also will be broadcast for free at this link. Yay, TV! You can also find out about all the activities in Fayetteville at this handy website.
First, some housekeeping to take care of. The all Pac-10 baseball teams were released this week, with Chad Arnold and Adam Conley selected as first teamers. There were also seven other Cougs selected as honorable mentions. The shocker? 10 USC Trojans made all-conference squads. Yes, that's your last place USC Trojans.
The road to Omaha begins with the hated rivals from Manhattan, the Kansas State Wildcats. After getting beat badly during the basketball season and Nuss losing out on a trip to Las Vegas during March Madness, the Cougar baseball team looks to take a little revenge tonight.
I can't really do this any better than Craig did, so check out his capsule previews of Kansas State and WSU. Grippi also ran a story on Kansas State, likening them to the Cougars, something that many of us delving in to Wildcats noticed. Something I also found interesting is that Fayetteville is almost directly between KSU and Grambling, sitting about 350 miles away from each. WSU is 1800 miles away.
The key tonight, as usual, is Chad Arnold pitching lights out and the Cougs showing some discipline at the plate. KSU isn't going to blow guys away like UCLA did, but plate discipline on the road has been a problem for Washington State all season long. Arnold also needs to find the strike zone and pitch with command tonight. KSU will sit back and make him throw strikes, so it's imperative that he locates well.
Tonight's matchup is one between teams that play a similar style. Both sides using pitching, defense, and timely hitting to win ballgames. KSU had the same road troubles as the Cougs this year, posting a great record at home and looking lost on the road. The matching of styles and play should make for a good game, and hopefully one the Cougs bring home to start a run towards Omaha.