Cougar baseball to take on USC

The Washington State baseball team will host USC this weekend for a three game series. The Cougs have the opportunity to improve on their 6-14-1 Pac-12 record against the ninth place Trojans.

Last weekend against Oregon State, WSU got smacked in the first two games before the series ended in unusual fashion. In the tenth inning, with the score tied during a weather delay, the game was called as the Beavers had to catch their flight home.

Marty Lees has changed up his pitching rotation throughout the season as the starters other than Scotty Sunitsch have struggled with consistency. However, Parker McFadden has been solid since given an opportunity recently. The junior from Yelm, WA had come out of the bullpen all season before getting his first start of the season on April 22.

That day, McFadden pitched five innings of no hit ball while striking out four. In two starts since then, against Washington and Oregon State, he has combined to pitch 8.2 innings, giving up only two runs and recording 13 strikeouts. Once rated a top 100 prospect by Baseball America coming out of high school, McFadden looks like he’s ready to take on a bigger role.

Hayden Rosenkrantz and Sunitsch will start for WSU on Friday and Saturday while McFadden will close out the series Sunday. The Trojans will trot out two starters who have an ERA in excess of 4.50, so the Cougar bats should have plenty of opportunitites to get going.

WSU and USC will play at Bailey Brayton Field Friday at 5 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at noon. The games will be live streamed at wsucougars.com.

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