COUGARS HOST GONZAGA FOR TUESDAY NIGHT MATCHUP
Washington State wraps up its seven-game homestand with a Tuesday night matchup against Gonzaga at 5 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network.

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 head to No. 3 Stanford for a three-game series this weekend, all three on the Pac-12 Network.

LAST WEEKEND
Washington State dropped two of three games to USC in Pullman last weekend. The Trojans came back to take Friday's opener 8-6 before the Cougars used seven shutout innings from Scotty Sunitsch to post an 8-4 win Saturday. USC claimed the series with a 9-3 win Sunday after collecting 12 hits.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State enters the week with a 15-27-1 mark and 7-16-1 in Pac-12 play after dropping two of three to USC in Pullman last weekend. Offensively the Cougars are led by outfielder Blake Clanton's .338 batting average  and 28 RBI while Justin Harrer paces the club with 10 homers. The Cougar pitching staff has recorded a pair of no-hitters this season for the first time since 1976 and the defense is tied for second in the Pac-12 in fielding percentage (.979). Head coach Marty Lees is in his third season at Washington State.

GONZAGA-WSU SERIES HISTORY
Washington State leads the series with Gonzaga 198-104-1 and have split the previous two meetings this season. The Cougars won the first meeting 4-3 in Pullman and the Bulldogs claimed a 7-4 victory in Spokane. WSU leads the series played in Pullman 84-31 and is looking for its first season series win over GU since 2011.

COUGARS AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS DURING PAC-12 PLAY
Washington State enters the weekend among the league leaders during Pac-12 Conference play. Through 24 Pac-12 games, the Cougar offense is third in home runs (22) while the defense leads the conference in fielding percentage (.982) and is second in double plays turned (26). Individually in conference play, Justin Harrer is tied for fourth in home runs (8) and Blake Clanton is tied for sixth in home runs (6) and sixth in slugging (.634). On the mound, Scotty Sunitsch is fifth in league play in ERA (2.63), eighth in batting average against (.238) and innings (51.1), and ninth in strikeouts (44).

BY THE NUMBERS IN 2018
23 - WSU has played 23 games that were decided by two runs or less (10-11-1)
18 - Ryan Walker retired 18 consecutive batters over a span of three appearances, at UCLA, at Arizona, ASU
18 - JJ Hancock had his 18-game on-base streak snapped against Santa Clara (4/22)
18 - Scotty Sunitsch is tied for 4th in the country with 18 hit batters in 2018
16 - WSU has played 16 one-run games in 2018 and owns an 9-7 record
10 - Justin Harrer's 10 home runs are the most by a Cougar since Taylor Ard hit 12 in 2012
9 - WSU has seen 9 pitchers make their WSU debuts in 2018 including 6 true freshmen
8 - WSU owns 8 comeback wins in 2018 including four of walkoff variety
7 - WSU owns 7 last at-bat wins in 2018 including against Gonzaga April 3
7 - WSU turned 7 double plays during the series against No. 3 Oregon State
5 - Wyatt Segle had 5 hits against UC Riverside in Tempe (2/18), WSU's 5-hit game since Adam Nelubowich in 2013
4 - 4 pitchers combined to no-hit Santa Clara in the 5-0 win April 22
4 - Blake Clanton hit 4 doubles against Santa Clara (4/20), setting a WSU record and tying the Pac-12 single-game record, it was the most by a Pac-12 player since 2007 and just the 5th player to do in Division I in 2018
2 - Scotty Sunitsch has been a part of the last two WSU hitters, threw the 9th of last year's combined no-hitter against Stephen F. Austin and threw a solo nine-inning no-hitter at Oregon (4/8)
2 - WSU has thrown 2 no-hitters in 2018 for the first time since 1976
1 - WSU handed Arizona its first home loss of the 2018 season March 24, UA had won its first 10 home games
1 - Danny Sinatro's 1st career homer was an inside-the-parker against Santa Clara (4/21), it was the 1st inside-the-park homer for WSU since Yale Rosen did so in 2013
1 - WSU tied No. 3 Oregon State 7-7 last Sunday, it was WSU's 1st tie since 1992 (8-8, vs. New Mexico - Fresno)

RECORD BOOK WATCH (PAGE 9)
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 week with 83 career appearances, tied for third-most in WSU history with Walker who made two appearances against USC last weekend. Walker notched his 11th career save in game one at Washington to move into a tie for seventh in WSU history while Sunitsch sits in a tie for 10th with nine career saves. Walker has notched three wins in relief this season after recording another in the walkoff win over California, clinching No. 12 of his career, fourth-most in WSU history. 

CLANTON EARNS HARDWARD AT WSU SENIOR LUNCHEON
Senior outfielder Blake Clanton recenly took home some hardware at the WSU Senior Awards Banquet. Clanton  was presented The Rob Oviatt and David Lang Strength and Conditioning Award after possessing a great commitment to training, are accountable to his/her workout, led by example and show an overall improvement in the weight room. The award honors the work ethic and training ideals of former WSU Directors of Physical Development Rob Oviatt and David Lang. Clanton was also named as recipient of the Beulah M. Blankenship Outstanding Student-Athlete Award, given to acknowledge personal achievements of a senior male and female student-athlete at WSU. The award recognizes contributions to the highest values of athletic expression by sportsmanship, dedication and positive regard for others.

MAIER NAMED COSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT 8 FIRST TEAM
Senior pitcher Collin Maier was named to the Google Cloud Academic All-District 8 First Team, CoSIDA (Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America) announced. Maier was one of 11 student-athletes named to the first team and one of just two pitchers. Maier is the first Cougar to earn Academic All-District first-team honors since outfielder Collin Slaybaugh earned the same recognition three straight years from 2012-14. Maier, a redshirt-senior righthander, owns a 3.92 cumulative grade-point-average while majoring in mechanical engineering. The Great Falls, Mont. native shares the team-lead with 17 appearances, all out of the bullpen, and a 1-0 record with a 3.86 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 14.0 innings. Maier, who transferred to WSU from the University of Puget Sound in the fall of 2016, recently received his bachelor's degree in physical sciences and is scheduled to complete his post-baccalaureate degree in mechanical engineering this fall. The 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-District® Baseball and Softball Teams, selected by CoSIDA, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the Google Cloud Academic All-America® ballot, with first- and second-team Academic All-America® honorees to be announced in June.

COUGS THROW COMBINED NO-HITTER, MCFADDEN NAMED PAC-12 PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Parker McFadden was named the Pac-12 Conference Pitcher of the Week after throwing the first five innings of a four-pitcher combined no-hitter against Santa Clara April 22, clinching a series sweep. It was the second no-hitter for WSU in 2018 after Scotty Sunitsch no-hit Oregon April 8 and the first time WSU has thrown a pair of no-hitters in the same season since the 1976 College World Series team also threw two. McFadden struck out four, walked two and hit one batter in route to his first win of 2018. The Yelm, Wash. native retired the final eight batters he faced before giving way to sophomore lefthander A.J. Block to start the sixth. Block worked 1.1 innings and senior Collin Maier followed with 0.2 innings before Ryan Walker closed things out with the final two innings. McFadden also worked 1.1 scoreless innings at Gonzaga earlier in the week, striking out three along the way. For the week, McFadden did not allow a run in his two appearances and totaled seven strikeouts in 6.1 no-hit innings.

COMBINED NO-HITTER NOTES
Notes from the April 22 combined no-hitter against Santa Clara
- 26th no-hitter in WSU history
- 22nd no-hitter in the country this season
- WSU's 2nd no-hitter this season, first time with two no-hitters since throwing two in 1976
- WSU threw a combined no-hitter last season against Stephen F. Austin
- Parker McFadden started, went 5 innings, struck out 4, walked two, hit one batter
- A.J. Block threw 1.1 innings, walked one, struck out one, worked 6th and got first out of 7th, leadoff error in 7th
- Collin Maier thew 0.2 innings, got final 2 outs in 7th with a strikeout and fielder's choice ground out
- Ryan Walker worked final 2 innings, got two flyouts and popout in 8th, struck out three around a walk in 9th

SUNITSCH THROWS NO-HITTER, NAMED NATIONAL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Senior lefthander Scotty Sunitsch threw a no-hitter at Oregon April 8, the 25th no-hitter in WSU history and first solo nine-inning no-hitter since Eric Wilkins did so at Oregon State in 1976. Sunitsch was named the National Pitcher of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Perfect Game and College Sports Madness and 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 the 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 (4/8)
- 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

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 eight comeback wins in 2018 including four of the walkoff variety (once against Saint Mary's, twice against Arizona State and once against California). 
- WSU 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 erased 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. 
- WSU 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. 
- WSU erased a 4-0 second-inning deficit to Arizona State with a six-run second inning and later won in the 10th on Justin Harrer's solo homer.
- The very next night, WSU 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 April 3, 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.
- In game two against California April 14, WSU tied the game with two runs in the seventh inning before Andres Alvarez pulled a doubled down the left field line with two outs in the 10th and JJ Hancock followed with a single to right centerfield to score Alvarez for a 4-3 win.
- In last Friday's opener against Santa Clara, WSU trailed 8-3 in the third inning before scoring five in the third, once in the fourth, trailed 10-9 in the fifth before scoring three times in the fifth as JJ Hancock's RBI-single tied it and Blake Clanton's fourth double of the game drove in two for a 12-10 lead.

NOTES FROM SERIES AGAINST NO. 3 OREGON STATE
Washington State dropped two of three games to No. 3 Oregon State in Pullman. OSU notched a 17-3 win in Friday's opener and a 9-1 victory Saturday. In Sunday's finale, the Cougars jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning before the Beavers eventually took a 7-6 lead and WSU answered with a run in the seventh inning to tied the game. In the 10th inning, lighting in the area forced a weather delay and the game was called after OSU had to make their flight home, ending the game in a 7-7 tie.

NOTES FROM SERIES AT WASHNGTON
Washington State dropped two of three at Washington, snapping a three-year series streak against the Huskies. UW used 16 hits and 11 free passes to take last Friday's opener 15-2. Saturday's game was postponed due to rain and the teams played a doubleheader Sunday. In game one, Scotty Sunitsch allowed one run over 7.1 innings, Blake Clanton and Justin Harrer both homered and Ryan Walker closed it out for a 4-1 win. In game two, WSU used a Blake Clanton 3-run homer to build a 5-1 lead in the eighth but UW rallied with a run in the eight and four more in the ninth capped with the winning run scoring on a wild pitch in the ninth for a 6-5 UW win.

RECAP AT SEATTLE U
Washington State surrendered the go-head run in the eighth inning in a 4-3 defeat against Seattle U. WSU received two-hit games from Robert Teel, Blake Clanton and Ryan Ramsower but Seattle U tied the game with two runs in the seventh and used a two-out RBI-triple to score the go-ahead run in the eighth inning.

NOTES FROM SWEEP OVER SANTA CLARA
Washington State swept a three-game nonconference series with Santa Clara April 20-22 in Pullman. The Cougars hit at a .357 clip and outscored the Broncos 28-13 during the series. Andres Alvarez led the way hitting .545 with four doubles and a triple in the series while Blake Clanton hit four doubles in Friday's 12-10 win, setting a WSU record for doubles and tying a Pac-12 record. Saturday the Cougars cruised to an 11-3 win behind six strong innings from Scotty Sunitsch, 3-hit games from Alvarez and Mason De La Cruz and a pair of two-run homers from Cal Waterman and Danny Sinatro with Sinatro's coming on an inside-the-parker. In Sunday's finale, four pitchers combined to no-hit Santa Clara in a 5-0 win. 

RECAP AT GONZAGA
The Cougars dropped a 7-4 nonconference meeting at Gonzaga April 17. WSU received two-hit games from JJ Hancock, Dillon Plew and James Rudkin along with a two-run home run from Justin Harrer. Gonzaga collected 12 hits and scored runs in the first four innings including a three-run second inning.

NOTES FROM SERIES AGAINST CAL
Washington State dropped two of three to California in Pullman, claiming the series-finale with a 10th-inning walkoff RBI-single from JJ Hancock. Cal used a six-run second inning to take the opener 13-6 and a four-run fourth inning to take game one of Saturday's doubleheader. In the game two finale, WSU tied the game with two runs in the seventh inning before Andres Alvarez pulled a double down the left field line and Hancock followed with a single to right centerfield to score Alvarez for the game-winner. Cougar starter Scotty Sunitsch allowed just one earned run and struck out seven in six innings of work in game two.

NOTES FROM SERIES AT OREGON, SUNITSCH FIRES NO-HITTER IN FINALE
Washington State dropped two of three at Oregon, 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. In the finale, WSU received a pair of two-hit games from the top two hitters of its lineup, Andres Alvarez and Dillon Plew while freshman Mason De La Cruz tallied his first two-hit game and catcher Robert Teel put the game out of reach with a three-run double in the seventh inning.

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. 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, 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.

MLB DRAFT PICKS UNDER MARTY LEES
The 2018 MLB Draft is set for June 4-6. Since Marty Lees arrived at Washington State prior to the 2016 season, six Cougars have been drafted: 
2016, Ian Hamilton, RHP, 11th round, Chicago White Sox
2016, Layne Bruner, LHP, 18th round, Baltimore Orioles
2016, Trek Stemp, 2B, 29th round, Tampa Bay Rays
2017, Damon Jones, LHP, 18th round, Philadelphia Phillies
2017, Shane Matheny, 3B, 23rd round, San Francisco Giants
2017, Colby Nealy, RHP, 35th round, Los Angeles Dodgers

Below is a list of current Cougars who were drafted out of high school:
2015, Justin Harrer, INF, 13th round, San Diego Padres
2015, Parker McFadden, RHP, 20th round, Seattle Mariners
2016, Danny Sinatro, OF, 40th round, Cleveland Indians
2016, A.J. Block, LHP, 39th round, Chicago Cubs
2017, Jack Smith, INF, 39th round, Seattle Mariners

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. 

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.

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.

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.

2018 SIGNING CLASS (will be here this fall AND play spring, 2019)
Connor Barison (RHP, 6-2, 175, FR)    Redmond, Wash. (Redmond HS)
Koby Blunt (OF/RHP, 5-10, 170, FR)    Clarkston, Wash. (Clarkston HS)
Kyler Bush (LHP, 6-5, 225, FR)    West Haven, Utah (Fremont HS)
Abel Carter  (INF, 5-10, 180, FR)    Carson City, Nev. (Carson HS)
Grant DeLappe (INF, 6-0, 170, JR*)    Maple Valley, Wash. (Tahoma HS/Bellevue College)
Payton Flynn (INF, 6-4, 190, FR)    Kennewick, Wash. (Kamiakin HS)
Tyson Guerrero (OF/LHP, 6-0, 170, FR)    Chehalis, Wash. (W.F. West HS)
Trevor Ichimura (RHP, 6-1, 185, FR)    Mililani, Hawaii (Iolani HS)
Kodie Kolden (INF, 6-0, 175, FR)    Post Falls, Idaho (Lake City HS)
Sam Lauderdale (LHP, 6-2, 165, FR)    Vancouver, Wash. (King's Way Christian HS)
Brandon Lees (INF, 6-3, 175, FR)    Pullman, Wash. (Pullman HS)
Kyle Manzardo (INF, 6-1, 185, FR)    Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (Lake City HS)
Zane Mills (RHP, 6-4, 205, FR)    Portland, Ore. (Lincoln HS)
Anthony Notaro (C, 6-0, 185, FR)    Anacortes, Wash. (Anacortes HS)
Bradley Polinsky (C, 6-0, 180, FR)    San Diego, Calif. (Cathedral Catholic HS)
Tyler Russell (RHP, 6-3, 170, FR)    Battle Ground, Wash. (Battle Ground HS)
Trent Sellers (RHP/INF, 6-0, 170, FR)    Kennewick, Wash. (Kennewick HS)
Brandon White (RHP, 6-8, 190, FR)    Chehalis, Wash. (W.F. West HS)

PATRICK CHUN NAMED DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
Washington State University President Kirk Schulz has selected Patrick Chun as the WSU Director of Athletics, it was announced Jan. 22, 2018. Chun is the 14th individual to lead Cougar athletics in school history and began his duties Feb. 5. "This is a game-changing day for our athletics program," said WSU President Kirk Schulz. "We were focused on finding a leader with the right blend of experience, vision, and passion to lead Cougar athletics to the next level of success. In Pat, we're confident we found that person. His achievements in fundraising, boosting the academic success rate of student athletes, and building strong relationships with the community—on- and off-campus—are exemplary." Chun, 43, is the first Asian-American athletic director to lead a Power 5 school and continues President Schulz' drive to diversify his senior leadership team. He has spent the past five and a half years leading Florida Atlantic University athletics and the previous 15 years at Ohio State University in a multitude of roles from 1997 through 2012, culminating as the executive associate athletics director. "I am honored to serve the Washington State University family and I want to thank President Schulz and the search committee for entrusting me as the steward of the Department of Athletics," said Chun.  "The passion and pride of Cougar Nation is renowned and revered across the country and I will work with our great coaches and staff to impact the lives of our student-athletes and to build upon our past successes to achieve new heights.  My family and I are looking forward to joining the WSU community and we are excited to get started."

ABOUT ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH / PITCHING COACH DAN SPENCER 
Dan Spencer oversees WSU's pitching staff and reunited with Lees as the two spent four seasons together at Oregon State, winning back-to-back College World Series titles in 2006 and 2007. Spencer coached three seasons with the New Mexico Lobos after serving the previous four years as the head coach of Texas Tech, compiling a 115-112 record. Before joining Texas Tech for the 2008 season, Spencer spent 11 seasons at Oregon State as the Beavers hitting coach (1997-2003) and pitching coach (2004-2007). He began his head coaching career at Green River Community College (1992-96) in Auburn, Wash. In 1992 and 1994 he was named the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Coach of the Year. A native of Vancouver, Wash., Spencer received his bachelor's degree in history from Portland State University in 1990. He and his wife, Susie, have three children: Wade, Logan, and Elizabeth.

ABOUT ASSISTANT COACH JIM HORNER
Jim Horner, a first-team All-Pacific-10 player for the Cougars in 1996, jumped at the opportunity to return to the Palouse last season after managing the Seattle Mariners Double-A affiliate Jackson Generals (Tenn.) for the 2014 season and the first half of the 2015 campaign. Horner owns seven-plus years of managerial experience, serving as the skipper of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Seattle – Low-A) from 2006-07 and the High Desert Mavericks (Seattle - High-A) from 2008-10 and 2013. In 2009, he was named California League Manager of the Year and Seattle Mariners Staff Member of the Year after guiding the Mavericks to South Division first and second half titles. From 2011-12, Horner coached two seasons at Texas Tech as the hitting coach under then head coach Dan Spencer. Horner joined the coaching ranks immediately after completing a nine-year professional playing career, all with the Mariners' organization. He was a catcher in the Seattle farm system from 1996-2004. In 2000, Horner reached the Triple-A level with the Tacoma Rainiers. Horner played at Washington State for coaches Bobo Brayton (1993-94) and Steve Farrington (1995-96). The Twin Falls, Idaho native earned first-team All-Pac-10 Conference honors as a senior after leading the Cougars with a .332 batting average. Horner was also named the Pacific-10 Conference Medal Winner for Washington State as WSU's top male student-athlete and received all-academic honors while earning a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Jim and his wife, Katie, have four children: daughters, Madison and Reagan, and sons, Jackson and Tyler.

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.