The Washington State baseball team returns to Pac-12 play this week as it travels to Salt Lake City to take on Utah.

The Cougars (21-18, 5-10 Pac-12) have not played a conference opponent since they won their series against the University of Washington over Mom’s weekend, and have won their last three games. The Utes (13-23, 5-10 Pac-12) are 4-6 over their last 10 games and lost their most recent contest against in-state rival BYU by a score of 7-5.

Utah junior outfielder Wyler Smith leads the Utes in batting average (.343) and hits (46). Smith is also one of three players who have started every game for the Utes. Another standout is sophomore infielder Dallas Carroll, who is hitting .304 and leads the team with 27 RBIs.

WSU can expect to see three of Utah’s better pitchers over the weekend. Junior right-hander Nolan Stouder (0-2, 4.54 ERA) will be on the mound Friday, followed by junior right-hander Dalton Carroll (4-5, 5.03) on Saturday. Freshman Jayson Rose (3-3, 3.88 ERA) leads the team in ERA and in strikeouts with 48, and will start Sunday.

For the Cougars, it will be senior right-handed pitcher Sean Hartnett (3-3, 3.52 ERA) on the mound Friday. Saturday will see senior left-hander Joe Pistorese (5-3, 2.73 ERA) toe the rubber. Pistorese is tied for fourth in the nation with four complete games this year, and he also recently moved to first on the WSU all-time innings pitched list.

Senior infielder Ian Sagdal is leading WSU in batting average (.336), hits (47) and is tied for first in RBIs (23). Sagdal is also fourth in the Pac-12 conference with 11 doubles. Freshman outfielder Wes Hatten has been playing well lately and recently went on the team’s longest hitting streak of the season, which spanned 12 games from March 28 to April 17.

First pitch against the Utes is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at Smith’s Ballpark in Salt Lake City.

Reporting by Steffen Stroup