The Cougar baseball team isn't headed to the postseason, but they did wrap up their season on a high note with a 3-2 win over Washington on Sunday. The win gave the Cougs an even 28-28 record for the season.
The .500 season, while a disappoint from pre-season expectations, is the sixth .500 or better in Donnie Marbut's eight years as head coach. He now has 238 wins, third all-time at WSU. Derek Jones led WSU in batting average, hitting .335 in his senior season. Taylor Ard hit .332 and led the team with 12 home runs. In two seasons at WSU, Ard hit .334 with 22 home runs and 105 RBI in 109 games.
Joe Pistorese, who won the game Sunday, led the pitching staff with a 2.44 ERA. The freshman started 12 games and was especially strong down the stretch. At this point, I'd say he's the odds on favorite to be the Friday night starter next season. J.D. Leckenby, who started this year as the Friday night starter, finished the season with a 4.50 ERA in 14 starts. Opposing batters hit .307 against Leckenby this season after him limited them to a .172 batting average against last season.
WSU will lose a fair amount offensively, but still returns a core group of experienced players and a few highly touted redshirt freshman. The pitching staff will have plenty of experience next season as practically everyone returns including all four starters. A postseason berth will likely be the expectation again going into next season.
Football
Mailbag: Coordinators set to become head coaches, Michigan's prospects & nation's top WR group - CBSSports.com
From Cdulaney85: What do you thing Washington State's record will be this year?
JIM MOORE | Leach's bear hunt stirs the emotions " Kitsap Sun
Washington State football coach Mike Leach was in Seattle over the weekend, taking in a Mariners' game Saturday night at Safeco Field.
Baseball
Cougars Close Regular Season on High Note - The Washington State University Official Athletic Site
SEATTLE - Freshman Joe Pistorese gave up one run in 6 1/3 innings and Washington State closed out its regular season with a 3-2 victory at Washington in Pac-12 Conference baseball, Sunday.
Cougars win season finale - Spokesman.com - May 28, 2012
Joe Pistorese was stellar on the mound and Derek Jones and Kyle Johnson delivered run-scoring doubles to spark the Washington State Cougars (28-28, 12-18) to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Huskies (30-25, 13-17) in Pacific-12 Conference baseball action Sunday in Seattle.