SAN FRANCISCO (May 23, 2022) – Washington State sophomore Grant Taylor was named the Pac-12 Conference Pitcher of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
 
Taylor fired a two-hit shutout in the series-opening 2-0 win over Arizona State Thursday, leading the Cougars to their first series sweep of Arizona State in program history. The sophomore righthander matched a career-high with seven strikeouts and faced just two batters over the minimum to record WSU's first complete game since Zane Mills at California last season and the first shutout effort since Scotty Sunitch no-hit Oregon in Eugene in 2018. Taylor also recorded WSU's first shutout against Arizona State since 2015.
 
In the fourth, Taylor allowed a one-out single up the middle but struck out the next two hitters to keep ASU off the board. In the fifth, the Murrieta, Calif. native worked around a one-out walk with a popout and a flyout before retiring the side on six pitches in the sixth inning.
 
Taylor allowed a one-out single in the seventh but induced a 5-4-3 double play on the following hitter to end the frame. In the eighth, Taylor retired the side with a pair of strikeouts before sitting ASU down in order in the ninth as shortstop Kodie Kolden ran down a popup along the left field line in foul territory to seal the win.
 
Taylor earns WSU's first Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week this season, joining Jacob McKeon who was named the player of the week following the series win at No. 10 Oregon and is the first Cougar to earn Pac-12 honors since Zane Mills each earned awards twice last season.