COUGARS FACE CAL FOR WEEKEND SERIES AT BAILEY-BRAYTON

Washington State (9-17, 4-8 Pac-12) hosts California (19-11, 5-7 Pac-12) for a Pac-12 Conference weekend series beginning Friday at 5 p.m., continuing Saturday at 2 p.m. and is scheduled to wrap up Sunday at 1 p.m.
 

FOLLOW ALONG

Follow all the season's action on the Washington State baseball official twitter page @CougBaseball, instagram page @Coug_Baseball and wsucougars.com. Links to live stats and radio streams will be available at the baseball schedule page on wsucougars.com. Every home game will be webstreamed through wsucougars.com. 
 

ON DECK

The Cougars will face Gonzaga in Spokane Tuesday on SWX.
 

LAST WEEKEND

Washington State dropped two of three at Oregon last weekend, both losses coming on a pair of close games, 2-1, 4-2, in a doubleheader played Friday because of rain in the forecast during the weekend. Saturday's finale was postponed due to rain and Scotty Sunitsch fired a no-hitter to lead the Cougars to a 7-0 win Sunday.
 

SUNITSCH THROWS NO-HITTER, NaMED NATIONAL PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Senior lefthander Scotty Sunitsch threw a no-hitter at Oregon Sunday, the 25th no-hitter in WSU history and first solo nine-inning no-hitter since Eric Wilkins did so at Oregon State in 1976. Earlier this week, Sunitsch was named the National Pitcher of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Perfect Game and College Sports Madness. Monday, Sunitch was named the Pac-12 Conference Pitcher of the Week. Sunitsch no-hit the Ducks in Washington State's 7-0 road win in Sunday's series-finale. The Federal Way, Wash. native struck out a career high nine, walked two, hit two batters and needed just 95 pitches. In Sunday's ninth inning, Sunitsch received a big play from a veteran outfielder who had just entered the game. Oregon's first batter of the inning lined a ball into shallow left field that senior Derek Chapman charged and made a sliding catch for the first out. Chapman had entered the game in the top of the ninth for Justin Harrer who left the game during his ninth-inning at-bat after an awkward swing. Sunitsch struck out the next two hitters before he was mobbed by his teammates.
 

NO-HITTER NOTES

Notes from Scotty Sunitsch' no-hitter at Oregon this past Sunday

- 25th no-hitter in WSU history

- 18th no-hitter in the country this season

- WSU's 1st solo 9-inning no-hitter since Eric Wilkins at Oregon State in 1976

- Sunitch threw the 9th inning of WSU's combined no-hitter last season against Stephen F. Austin

- There have been 3 other Cougar solo no-hitters since 1976 but all three were seven innings

- Sunitsch recorded WSU's first shutout since 2015, Joe Pistorese against California 

- Sunitsch recorded WSU's first complete game since 2015, Joe Pistorese against Washington 
 

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State enters the weekend with an 9-17 mark and 4-8 in Pac-12 play after going 2-2 last week. WSU beat Gonzaga 5-3 last Tuesday, dropped both games of a doubleheader at Oregon Friday before Scotty Sunitsch led WSU to a 7-0 win Sunday. Offensively the Cougars are led by outfielder Blake Clanton's .310 batting average while JJ Hancock adds a .284 batting average to go along with six doubles. Justin Harrer paces the club with six homers and 15 RBI. Head coach Marty Lees is in his third season at Washington State.
 

CAL-WSU SERIES HISTORY

California leads the all-time series against Washington State 53-39-1 and have claimed the last two series including a sweep in Berkeley last season. WSU's last series win came in 2015 after taking two of three in Berkeley. Cal leads the all-time series in Pullman 16-15 after taking two of three in 2015. The Cougars are looking for their first series win against the Golden Bears in Pullman since 2014.
 

COUGARS AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS DURING PAC-12 PLAY

Washington State enters the fifth week of Pac-12 Conference play ranked among the league leaders in a couple categories. Through 12 Pac-12 games, the Cougar offense is tied for first in triples (4), tied for fourth in home runs (8), fifth in hits (101) and the pitching staff owns the fifth-most strikeouts (83). Defensively, WSU leads all Pac-12 teams in fielding percentage (.984, 7 errors) and is tied with Utah for the most double plays (14). Individually in conference play, JJ Hancock is tied for ninth in hits (15) while Justin Harrer shares the lead in home runs (5). On the mound, Scotty Sunitsch is fourth in league play in batting average allowed (.198), fifth in innings (25.2) and tied for eighth in strikeouts (20).
 

BY THE NUMBERS IN 2018

18 - Ryan Walker retired 18 consecutive batters over a span of three appearances, at UCLA, at Arizona, ASU

16 - WSU has played 16 games that were decided by 2-runs or less (8-8)

13 - JJ Hancock enters the Cal series having reached base in 13 straight games

12 - WSU had 12 comeback wins in 2017, including in each of the first seven wins of the season

12 - WSU has played 13 one-run games in 2018 and posted an 8-5 record

9 - WSU has seen 9 pitchers make their WSU debuts in 2018 including 6 true freshmen

8 - In WSU's 9 wins, 8 have all been by one run

6 - WSU owns 6 comeback wins in 2018 including three of walkoff variety

6 - WSU owns 6 last at-bat wins in 2018 including both wins over Arizona State and Tuesday vs. Gonzaga

5 - Wyatt Segle had 5 hits against UC Riverside in Tempe (2/18), WSU's 5-hit game since Adam Nelubowich in 2013

1 - WSU handed Arizona its first home loss of the 2018 season March 24, UA had won its first 10 home games
 

RECORD BOOK WATCH (PAGE 6)

Senior lefthander Scotty Sunitsch put his name in a couple WSU career Top-10 lists last season while senior righty Ryan Walker has also worked his way on to the record book. Sunitsch enters the weekend with 78 career appearances, tied for third in WSU history while Walker moved into the Top-10 a couple weeks ago and now owns 75 appearances, tied for 5th in school history. Sunitsch also owns nine career saves, tied for ninth in WSU history while Walker's moved into a tie with Sunitsch after notching his ninth career save in the win over Gonzaga. Walker, who recorded three wins in relief last season to push his career relief wins total to nine, added a relief win against UC Riverside opening weekend and picked up another with four shutout innings against Arizona State, clinching No. 11 of his career, fourth-most in WSU history. 
 

COUGS TURN FIRST TRIPLE PLAY SINCE 1999

In WSU's 2-1 win over Saint Mary's March 10, the Cougars turned their first triple play since 1999. Saint Mary's had runners on first and second with nobody out. SMC popped up a bunt attempt that catcher Cal Waterman dove for and caught. He jumped to his feet and fired to James Rudkin at first base to double-off the runner for the second out and Rudkin then fired to Andres Alvarez at second base to get the runner at second base for the final out. It was WSU's first triple play since doing to so at Arizona State (4/11/99).
 

COMEBACK KIDS AT IT AGAIN IN 2018 (Page 5)

After posting 12 comeback wins in 2017, the Cougars have tallied six comeback wins including a pair of walkoff wins against Arizona State. The Cougars trailed UC Riverside 6-1 in the Husker Classic finale before tallying two runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth behind a pair of two-out two-run singles from JJ Hancock and Cal Waterman with Waterman's proving to be the game-winner. WSU added another win in its final at-bat at Grand Canyon, breaking a 4-4 tied with a run in the ninth inning for a 5-4 road win. The Cougars added another one against Saint Mary's (3/8), erasing Saint Mary's 6-3 lead with Dillon Plew's three-run double in the seventh inning before WSU scored the winning run in the 11th inning after a Saint Mary's throwing error. The Cougars added another two days later, trailing 1-0 in the first inning before a pair of solo homers games clinched a 2-1 win against the Gaels. Last weekend against Arizona State, the Cougars erased a 4-0 second-inning deficit with a six-run second inning and later won in the 10th on Justin Harrer's solo homer. The very next night, the Cougars erased a 1-0 first-inning deficit with two runs in the first later walked off on ASU again, this time on Danny Sinatro's 11th-inning RBI-single. Against Gonzaga, WSU tied the game with a Collin Montez RBI-sacrifice fly in the seventh inning and Robert Teel hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning that proved to be the game winner in a 4-3 victory.
 

TEEL'S EIGHTH-INNING HOMERS LEADS WSU PAST GONZAGA

Robert Teel hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning for a 4-3 win over Gonzaga at Bailey-Brayton Field last Tuesday. Teel led off the inning with his first career homer, an opposite-field solo shot to right field and Ryan Walker closed it out with a perfect ninth inning for his third save. WSU used eight pitchers and received two-hit games from Justin Harrer and Ryan Ramsower. Harrer hit his team-leading fifth home run, a two-run shot in the first, and  reliever Collin Maier picked up his first WSU win after getting the final out in the eighth inning.
 

NOTES FROM SERIES AGAINST ARIZONA STATE

Washington State used a pair of walkoffs to take the first two games of the series against Arizona State in Pullman. Justin Harrer's solo homer to lead off the 10th inning gave WSU an 8-7 win and Danny Sinatro's RBI-single in the 11th inning gave the Cougars a 4-3 win Friday. ASU starter Eli Lingos fired a six-hit shutout to avoid the sweep Saturday. Washington clinched its first series over Arizona State since 2013 and first series win over the Sun Devils in Pullman since 2010. JJ Hancock led the Cougars hitting .400 with three runs scored including Friday's game-winning run in the 11th. Hancock also threw out a runner at the plate from right field in the ninth inning for Friday's win.
 

NOTES FROM SERIES AT ARIZONA

WSU dropped two of three in Tucson, taking Saturday's game 5-4 after scoring five runs in the first inning and received a dominating relief appearance from Ryan Walker who retired all eight batters he faced. The senior righthander entered the game with one out and the bases loaded in the seventh, he retired the next two hitters, worked a 1-2-3 eighth before striking out the side in the ninth. In Friday's opener, the Cougars cut the Arizona lead to one with four runs in the eighth inning. WSU put the tying run on second in the ninth inning but the runner was thrown out at third to end the game after trying to advance on a ball in the dirt. In Sunday's finale, Arizona scored four in the first and three more in the second inning and never looked back despite WSU getting three hits from JJ Hancock including a solo homer.
 

NOTES FROM PAC-12 OPENING SERIES AT NO. 14 UCLA

Washington State was in position to take a series at No. 14 UCLA after owning leads in the eighth inning of the final two games but the Bruins rallied in both games to record a series sweep. Offensively the Cougars were led by outfielder Justin Harrer who homered in all three games, twice over the batter's eye in centerfield. Outfielder/designated hitter Blake Clanton posted a team-high .462 batting average after recording two hits in all three games including a solo home run in the Saturday game. In Friday's opener, WSU led 3-0 in the third inning before UCLA scored three in the third and three more in the sixth for a 6-3 lead. In the ninth, Harrer homered and the Cougars added another run before popping out to end the game with the tying run on second. Saturday, WSU saw Harrer and Clanton go back-to-back as part of a five-run third inning and the Cougars took a 5-4 lead into the eighth. UCLA scored four times in the eighth and WSU brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth but lined into a double play to end the game. Sunday, the Cougars took a 4-3 into the eighth where UCLA used a two-out two-run single to post a 5-4 win.
 

COUGARS SPLIT SERIES WITH SAINT MARY'S

Washington State's initial home-opening series set for the first weekend of March against Sacramento State was cancelled due to weather. The Cougars instead waited a week to play in Bailey-Brayton Field, splitting a four-game series with Saint Mary's. WSU came back to win Thursday's opener 7-6 in 11 innings, scoring the winning run on a SMC throwing error. Friday, Saint Mary's benefitted from a ninth-inning baserunner interference call against WSU, taking the Cougars game-tying run off the board an instead giving the Gaels a game-ending 6-4-3 double play. Saturday, WSU received seven solid innings from Scotty Sunitsch and a pair of solo home runs from James Rudkin and Blake Clanton for a 2-1 win. In Sunday's finale, SMC used their own strong starting pitching performance to hold WSU to one run and three hits for a 3-1 win. 
 

WSU NOTCHES ROAD WIN AT GRAND CANYON

WSU scored the go-ahead run to break a 4-4 tie in the ninth inning and posted a 5-4 victory at Grand Canyon. The Cougars beat an Antelope team who took a game from No. 7 TCU and claimed the WAC regular season title in 2017. Dillon Plew recorded three hits and scored two runs including the go-ahead run in the ninth after starting the inning with a triple. Justin Harrer drove in Plew with two outs in the ninth with a single through the left side. Senior James Rudkin added two hits and an RBI and Nick Strange earned the win by getting the final five outs.
 

NOTES FROM OPENING WEEKEND

Washington State went 1-3 the opening weekend of 2018 and received a couple impressive performances along the way. Junior first basemen/designated hitter Wyatt Segle recorded a hit in all four games capped by a 5-for-5 performance in the comeback win over UC Riverside. Segle was the first Cougar to notch a five-hit game since Adam Nelubowich did so against UCLA in 2013. Segle finished the weekend 8-for-13 for a team-best .615 batting average. Junior shortstop Andres Alvarez recorded multiple-hits in each of the final three games including a three-hit game against Nebraska. Sophomore centerfielder Danny Sinatro recorded his first career three-hit game in the win over UC Riverside and stole three bases throughout the weekend. On the mound, redshirt-sophomore Isaac Mullins struck out a career-high seven in five innings against UC Riverside on opening day and senior Scotty Sunitsch had six strikeouts in six innings against Nebraska. Senior reliever Ryan Walker was dominant in his only appearance, striking out four in 2.2 scoreless innings of the win over UC Riverside.
 

COUGARS LOOKING FOR MORE IN 2018

WSU returned eight starters from its 2017 lineup and two pitchers from its final weekend rotation. Last season, the Cougars upped their win total from a season ago and posted four straight Pac-12 Conference series wins in a 24-29 campaign including a 10-20 mark in league play. In year two under head coach Marty Lees, the Cougars recorded its highest batting average, scored the most runs and hit the most home runs since 2013 while posting the fourth-most doubles (105) in the Pac-12, the most since 2012. Washington State won four straight conference series for the first time since 1995, claiming series against No. 30 Washington, at Utah, Oregon and No. 28 UCLA. The Cougars played well at Bailey-Brayton Field in 2017, posting a 20-10 mark for the best home record since the 2010 team went 20-5.
 

COUGARS SELECT FIVE CAPTAINS FOR 2018

Washington State debut team captains for the first time under head coach Marty Lees in 2018."It was time for a leadership council to lead this team," said Lees, who enters his third-year leading the Cougs. After a team vote, the five leaders chosen were; senior left-handed pitcher Cody Anderson, senior outfielder Derek Chapman, senior left-handed pitcher Scotty Sunitsch, junior infielder Andres Alvarez, and senior outfielder Blake Clanton. 
 

COUGAR DEFENSE AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS IN 2017

Defensively, the Cougars returned seven position starters but must replace the elite defender in Shane Matheny who was drafted by the San Francisco Giants. Last season, WSU tied for second in the Pac-12 with 51 double plays turned including a conference-best 33 during Pac-12 play. 
 

COUGAR OFFENSE MADE BIG STRIDES IN 2017

The WSU offense made big strides in year two under head coach Marty Lees and hitting coach Jim Horner. WSU posted its highest batting average (.272) since 2013, averaged the most runs/g (4.9) and hits/g (9.1) per game since 2013, hit the most doubles (105) since 2012 and hit the most home runs (21) since 2013. Six Cougars recorded 10+ doubles for the first time since 2010 after just two players had double-digit doubles 2016.
 

JONES, MATHENY, NEALY and TWO SIGNEES TAKEN IN MLB DRAFT

Redshirt-junior pitcher Damon Jones, junior third baseman Shane Matheny and junior pitcher Colby Nealy were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. Jones was taken in the 18th round by the Philadelphia Phillies, Matheny was selected in the 23rd round by the San Francisco Giants and Nealy was taken in the 35th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cougar signees Isaiah Smith (OF, 21st, Kansas City) and Jack Smith (INF, 39th, Seattle) were also drafted. All but Jack Smith signed professional contracts while Jack Smith elected to attend WSU.
 

COUGAR BASEBALL ON WASHINGTON STATE IMG RADIO

This season, 36 games will be broadcast on the Washington State IMG Network and every radio broadcast will be available through the WSU Gameday App via TuneIn and on KQQQ (1150 AM) in Pullman. There will also be select games broadcast on KXLY (920 AM) in Spokane and games will be available on KONA (610 AM) in Tri-Cities. Included in the 36 broadcasts are all 30 Pac-12 Conference contests and all three meetings against Gonzaga University. Matt Chazanow enters his third season calling Cougar Baseball and will be joined in the booth by former Cougar All-American and Major Leaguer Mike Kinkade who will serve as an analyst for select home games in 2017. Kinkade played at Washington State from 1992-95, earned All-America honors as a junior and finished his WSU career the all-time leader in hits, runs scored and doubles and went on to play six seasons in the big leagues with the Mets, Orioles and Dodgers. He was inducted into the WSU Hall of Fame in 2017.
 

BAILEY-BRAYTON FIELD GETS NEW ASTROTURF FOR 2018

Thsi past summer, Bailey-Brayton Field received AstroTurf's state-of-the-art Diamond Series playing surface, replacing the FieldTurf that was installed in 2004. The infield FieldTurf was replaced in 2013. "We are very excited that WSU Athletics made the decision to add new turf for the first phase of the renovations for our baseball program," WSU Head Coach Marty Lees said. "Steve Webb of Coast to Coast Turf oversaw the installation who is a former Coug who played on this field so we know we are in great hands! We are looking forward to playing on one of the country's premiere playing surfaces at Bailey-Brayton Field." For this synthetic turf system, the infield "grass" portion of the field is comprised of a combination of advanced fibers that mimic the look, feel, and playability of natural grass. Base paths, warning tracks, and batter's box all feature a proprietary fiber blend of shorter pile height that accurately emulates clay. All of the elements of the playing surface have been engineered for optimal ball bounce, ball roll, underfoot feel, and durability for the specific part of the baseball diamond in which they are installed.  A special feature called the RootZone acts like a net to encapsulate the sand and rubber and to reduce its splash for more natural hops. AstroTurf is used at approximately 80 percent of all Division I synthetic baseball fields including The Ohio State, Vanderbilt, Michigan and Oklahoma.