Washington State will attempt to right the ship against Washington this weekend and snap their three game losing streak. The Cougar baseball team (15-28, 8-16 Pac-12) will have a tall order, however, as the Huskies (27-16, 13-8 Pac-12) are a top the Pac-12 standings and ranked 14th in the nation.
The Cougs, who are last in the conference, fell to a Utah team last weekend that is tied with Washington with a 13-8 conference record. The Huskies, meanwhile, traveled to USC and took two out of three against the Trojans.
Starting on the mound for WSU will be Damon Jones, Ian Hamilton, and Scotty Sunitsch, all of whom boast an ERA in excess of 5.00. While pitching over 40 innings this year, it will only be Sunitsch's second start of the season Sunday. Opposing batters have only hit .229 off the sophomore lefthander, but he has given up 18 walks and three home runs.
Looking at WSU's batting stats, there are quite a few players with likable on base percentages, but the team figure of .329 lags far behind that of its opponents (.370). Slugging percentage tells a similar story, and the two illustrate many of the Cougars struggles thus far. While their batting average is almost identical to their opponents, WSU is drawing fewer walks, and hitting for less power. The Cougs three leaders in OBP, Trek Stemp, Dugan Shirer, and Ty Johnson have combined for 10 extra base hits this season, all doubles.
In order to go into Seattle and steal the series, WSU will need better performances from their starters, and hopefully a little extra pop from the bats. This season hasn't gone according to plan in all likelihood, but winning a series at UW for the first time since 2004 would give the team some momentum as the year's end is in sight.
Games will be played Friday at 7 p.m. Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at noon, and will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks.
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Baseball:
Cougars Set To Face No. 14 Washington In Seattle - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
WSU opens a three-game series Friday in Seattle at 7 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network.
Making it look Easley, Roughrider center fielder becoming his own man | The Daily Courier | Prescott, Az
Nate Easley will get the chance to “produce” at the next level in the fall, recently signing to play baseball for the Cougars of Washington State University of the Pac-12.
Basketball:
Comfort with Stansbury leads Washington State grad transfer Johnson to commit to WKU | WKU Sports | bgdailynews.com
Que Johnson says new Western Kentucky men's basketball coach Rick Stansbury “keeps it real with people.”
Curry breaks all the rules | The Spokesman-Review
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Someone should write a book. Call it “The Curry Rules.” But before that happens, someone is going to have to figure out how to slow down Steph Curry. Read on.
Football:
Post-spring position unit reviews: Pac-12 North running backs - Pac-12 Blog- ESPN
Three Pac-12 teams have backfields that should be among the nation's best in 2016.
Women's Soccer:
Four Cougars Competing with Summer Soccer Clubs - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
The student-athletes will be training with teams from the Women's Premier Soccer League and independent clubs.
Rowing:
No. 13 Rowing Heads to Pac-12 Championships - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Six of the seven Pac-12 women's rowing teams are ranked in the top-20.