The WSU baseball team opened up Pac-12 play with a disappointing showing against the University of Southern California Trojans over the weekend.

The Cougars fell two games to one against USC in their conference opening series, as they were plagued by errors and a lack of offense in the first two games before stellar pitching pushed them to a win in the series finale.

WSU (11-7, 1-2) started the Southern California road trip with a heartbreaking walk-off, 8-7 loss to Long Beach State on Wednesday, snapping the Cougars’ seven-game winning streak before opening conference play on Friday night.

Unfortunately for the Cougars, things did not get better in the conference opener as they fell 12-3 to a talented Trojan line-up.

Junior left-handed starter Damon Jones (1-1) was able to hold USC (12-7, 2-1) in check early, keeping the Trojans off the board for the first two innings and allowing the Cougars to snag an early 1-0 lead.

In the third inning, however, USC tagged Jones for three runs on three hits and took a lead that USC would not give up for the rest of the game.

WSU was able to get one run back on an RBI-single by sophomore shortstop Andres Alvares in the top of the fourth, but the one-run deficit would prove to be the closest the Cougars could get. USC pulled away in the bottom of the fourth and did not look back.

WSU committed two errors in in the bottom of the fourth, allowing the Trojans to rack up three runs on one hit in the inning. A lead-off throwing error, followed by a hit batter and another throwing error allowed USC to pick up three unearned runs and widen the gap to four runs.

Despite getting two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Jones would be pulled after 102 pitches and four and two-thirds innings of work. The Cougars would give up four unearned runs in the inning after throwing error by the second baseman on a play that would have ended the inning.

The Cougars were able to grab a run in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by sophomore catcher Cory Meyer, but it would not make much of a difference as the Cougars fell 12-3 in the first game of the three-game set.

The second game of the series was closer, but WSU was still unable to overcome the Trojans. USC sealed the series victory with a 4-2 victory on Saturday.

Junior right-handed pitcher Ryan Walker (1-2) gave the Cougars five good innings as he allowed just three runs on six hits while walking two batters. The defense shaped up as well as the Cougars did not give up any errors in the game. WSU committed four errors in Friday’s matchup.

The efforts of Walker and the defense came up a bit short as USC starter, junior right-handed Brad Wegman, almost silenced the WSU bats over six innings. He allowed just one run on five hits and four walks in his outing.

After falling behind by three early in the game, the Cougars clawed their way back into the game with an RBI-double by junior designated-hitter Blake Clanton in the fourth inning to close the gap to two runs and an RBI-single by Meyer to cut the lead to one.

That would be it for the Cougar rally as USC shut down the Cougars offense with strong pitching and added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth.

Despite a rocky start to conference play, WSU was able to salvage the series and take the finale Sunday afternoon behind a strong start by junior left-handed pitcher Cody Anderson (3-0).

The six-foot-six Marysville native put forth his best performance of the year, as he allowed just one run on five hits and struck out six over his eight innings of work.

The series finale was no offensive explosion for the Cougars, but the offenses’ four runs got the job done.

The Cougars’ first run came on an RBI-groundout by Meyer, which gave WSU the lead early on in the game. After the Trojans tied the game in the bottom of the third, the offense roared to life in the fifth and seventh innings.

WSU regained the lead on an RBI-single by junior first baseman James Rudkin in the fifth and followed that with a two-run seventh inning. Clanton, the designated hitter Sunday, started the seventh inning scoring with a two-strike home run to right field, extending the WSU lead to two runs.

Redshirt junior outfielder Dugan Shirer followed Clanton’s solo home run with a sacrifice fly to score sophomore left fielder Justin Harrer later in the inning.

Junior left-handed pitcher Scotty Sunitsch, came on in the ninth to close the game for the Cougars and secured his fourth save of the season.

The Cougars return home Friday to take on California State University, Northridge. First pitch is 4 p.m. at Bailey-Brayton Field.

Editor’s note: This article has been revised to reflect that the Cougars’ record is (11-7, 1-2), not (111-7, 12-2).