MORGANTOWN, W. Va. (April 2, 2024) – Washington State senior righthander Grant Taylor picked up another national accolade Tuesday after being named the NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy National Pitcher of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Taylor was named the National Co-Pitcher of the Week by Perfect Game and the Pac-12 Conference Pitcher of the Week after his 17-strikeout one-hit shutout win at Washington in Seattle last Thursday night.

Taylor broke the previous WSU modern day record of 16 strikeouts set by John Olerud against Eastern Washington in 1988 and WSU Pac-10/12 mark of 13 set by James Freeman (2005, at SE Louisiana), matched by Matt Way (2009, Washington) and Zane Mills (2021, at Dixie State). Taylor's one-hit shutout is the first shutout by a Cougar since he shutout Arizona State in 2022 and is the first one-hitter since Taylor and three relievers one-hit No. 15 Oregon State in Corvallis last season.

The senior did not walk or hit a batter and allowed just a first-inning two-out infield single before retiring the next 25 Husky hitters. Fifteen of the 17 strikeouts were swinging, 17 strikeouts are tied for the second-most by a pitcher in the country this season and are the most by a Pac-12 pitcher this season.

Taylor was locked in throughout the night, posting a scoreless first inning and struck out 10 straight hitters at one point after striking out the final hitter in the first inning and then struck out the side in the second, third and fourth innings before the first UW batter flew out to center to start the fifth inning. Taylor retired the next two hitters in the frame before striking out the side for a fourth time in the sixth inning. Taylor recorded two more strikeouts in the eighth inning and worked a perfect ninth with a strikeout, flyout to right field and a popout to shortstop to clinch the 4-0 Cougar win, WSU's first shutout against Washington since 1995 and first in Seattle since 1989.

Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association's official Web site, www.ncbwa.com. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.