Cougar baseball returns to Pullman
WSU looks to snap eight-game losing streak
OLIVER MCKENNA | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE
Then-junior left-handed pitcher AJ Block throws a pitch during the game against Stanford on March 30, 2019, at Bailey-Brayton Field.
March 31, 2022
WSU baseball (9-15) is set to host a three-game series for the first time in eight games against the Utah Utes (15-9-1). The first game is set for 3:05 p.m. today, April 1.
WSU is 6-6 all-time against the Utes. The last matchup was in April 2021, which ended in a WSU victory, 5-3.
Utah is currently 10th in the Pac-12 with a 2-4 conference record, while WSU is last in the conference with a 1-8 record.
In their last game against BYU, WSU lost 9-3. WSU struggled with errors and pitching issues, which gave BYU crucial base runners. The other Cougars capitalized on WSU’s poor pitching with multiple singles and doubles. WSU’s offense also struggled — they hit into two double plays and went three-up three-down in over half of the innings.
Utah won their last game 7-6 over Utah Valley in Salt Lake City. They started their season off with a series win against Loyola Marymount, winning two of three games. Utah then defeated Fresno State 2-1 and split a two-game series with San Diego State.
Utah’s first conference matchup of the season was against the Washington Huskies in a three-game series. The Utes earned the series win, victorious in two of three games. The only loss was a 6-3 defeat after 10 innings of play in the first game.
After losing to BYU, Utah was swept in three games by the Oregon Ducks. Utah swept Northern Colorado to help set up the matchup with the Cougs.
Utah is led by Landon Frei offensively with 32 hits on 93 at-bats for an average of .344. Frei also has 13 RBIs and two home runs. TJ Clarkson leads the team in RBIs with 25, putting him fifth in the conference. Clarkson’s seven home runs ties him for fourth in the Pac-12.
Matthew Sox leads the Utes in innings pitched with 36.2. Sox also has 32 strikeouts and has given up 33 hits with 22 earned runs for an ERA of 5.15. Whiting leads the Utes in the bullpen, responsible for a conference-leading four saves. Whiting has 21 strikeouts and 6 earned runs in 16.1 innings of work.
After the three-game series against the Utes, WSU will head to Spokane on Tuesday to take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs. The game will be played at the Patterson Baseball Complex. WSU returns to conference play the following Friday in Tucson, Ariz. to take on the Arizona Wildcats for a three-game series.
