COUGARS HEAD TO LOS ANGELES FOR SERIES AT USC
Washington State makes the trip down to Los Angeles for a three-game Pac-12 Conference series with USC running Thursday through Saturday because of Sunday's Easter holiday.

PROBABLE STARTERS
Ky Bush | Fr. | LHP | 0-2, 13.71 ERA, 21.2 IP, 24 K vs. Connor Lunn | Jr. | RHP | 5-1, 2.76 ERA, 45.2 IP, 44 K
Brandon White | Fr. | RHP | 2-5, 5.14 ERA, 35.0 IP, 36 K vs. Isaac Esqueda | So. | LHP | 2-2, 3.59 ERA, 42.2 IP, 34 K
A.J. Block | Jr. | LHP | 0-5, 5.44 ERA, 41.0 IP, 36 K vs. TBA

ON DECK
The Cougars will head to Spokane for a Tuesday matchup at Gonzaga at 6 p.m. on SWX TV.

FOLLOW ALONG
Cougar baseball fans can follow all the season's action on the Washington State baseball official twitter page @CougBaseball, instagram page @Coug_Baseball and wsucougars.com. Links to live stats and radio streams will be available at the baseball schedule page on wsucougars.com. Every Cougar home game will be webstreamed through Pac-12.org. 

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State enters the USC series with an 8-25 overall mark with series wins at Nevada and against CSUN. The Cougars own a 1-11 mark in Pac-12 Conference play, beating Oregon on a wild pitch walkoff win over Oregon last Sunday. Outfielder Danny Sinatro leads the way with a .302 batting average while outfielder Collin Montez owns the team lead with nine doubles. Junior reliever Davis Baillie owns a win and two saves in his 18 appearances, tied for sixth in the Pac-12.

COUGAR QUICK GAME
TEAM
•  WSU owns nationally ranked recruiting classes in 2 of the last 3 seasons (2016 - No. 28 and 2018 - No. 32)
•  WSU has seen 17 players make their WSU debuts in 2019  (12 freshmen including 7 pitchers)
•  WSU freshmen have combined 5 HR, tied for the 2nd-most HR by freshmen in the Pac-12 (trailing Arizona's 13)
•  WSU played its first 11 games on the road, the longest stretch to open the season since 2006 (12 games)
•  WSU was the only team in the country to throw two no-hitters in 2018, first WSU team to do so since 1976
•  Marty Lees and pitching coach Dan Spencer were assistants on Oregon State's National Title teams (2006-07)
•  Assistant coach Jim Horner played for the Cougars (1993-96), earned All-Pac-10 honors as an OF in 1996 

PLAYER
•  Cougar Legend John Olerud (1987-89) was inducted into the 2019 Pac-12 Hall of Honor in early March
•  RHP Brandon White was named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week (2/26) (at Santa Clara, W, 6.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K)
•  The 2019 roster features 4 sets of HS teammates; 
    Kennewick HS (Dillon Plew, Trent Sellers), Lake City HS (Kodie Kolden, Kyle Manzardo)  
    W.F. West HS (Tyson Guerrero, Brandon White), Carson HS (Abel Carter, Bryce Moyle)

ABOUT USC
USC enters the series with a 14-20 overall record after beating Pepperdine Tuesday and 6-9 in Pac-12 play after dropping two of three at Utah last weekend. The Trojans lead the all-time series 72-33 and have claimed four straight series after taking two for three in Pullman last season. The Cougars are 13-40 all-time when playing at USC and are looking for their first series win in Los Angeles since taking two of three at 2011.

YOUNG COUGS AMONG PAC-12 LEADERS
WSU has seen 17 players make their debuts this season including 12 freshmen. Here is where a couple of freshmen rank among all freshmen in the Pac-12 Conference.
36 - RHP Brandon White's 36 strikeouts are 3rd-most among Pac-12 freshmen pitchers
35.0 - White's 35.0 innings pitched are 5th-most among Pac-12 freshmen pitchers
27 - RHP Zane Mills' 27 strikeouts are 6th-most among Pac-12 freshmen pitchers
22 - DH Kyle Manzardo's team-high 22 RBI are 4th-most among Pac-12 freshmen hitters
19 - 3B Kodie Kolden owns 19 RBI, are 6th-most among Pac-12 freshmen hitters
17 - RHP Zane Mills owns 17 appearances, tied for 2nd-most among Pac-12 freshmen
10 - Kyle Manzardo recorded a 10-game hitting streak earlier this season
5 - WSU freshmen combine for 5 HR in 2019, tied for 2nd-most in the Pac-12 behind Arizona (13)

WHITE'S NO-HIT OUTING EARNED NATIONAL, PAC-12 HONORS
Freshman pitcher Brandon White was named the Pac-12 Conference Pitcher of the Week Feb. 26. White was also named among the National Pitchers of the Week by Collegiate Baseball Magazine. White earned his first career win in his first career start Feb. 21 at Santa Clara after firing 6.1 no-hit innings with nine strikeouts and no walks in a combined one-hit shutout win, 10-0. The Chehalis, Wash. native retired the first 15 batters he faced before the leadoff hitter in the sixth inning reached on a Cougar fielding error but was thrown out trying to steal second base later in the inning. White, a 14th-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2018 MLB Draft, is the first Cougar freshman pitcher to earn Pac-12 weekly honors since Ryan Walker in 2015.

COUGS RECEIVE PRESEASON RECOGNITION
D1Baseball.com released its Top 2019 Prospects and a couple Cougars received recognition. Junior left-handed pitcher A.J. Block entered 2019 rated No. 25 among the Top Pac-12 2019 Prospects and No. 167 nationally. Three were named among the Top Pac-12 Impact Freshmen; RHP Brandon White (No. 12), LHP Ky Bush (No. 35), INF Kyle Manzardo (No. 38). White was also named among the Top-100 Impact Freshmen in the country, No. 85).

ANOTHER NATIONALLY RANKED RECRUITING CLASS
Washington State's 2016 incoming class was rated No. 28 by D1baseball.com and this year's 2018 class (this year's newcomers) was rated No. 32 in the country by Collegiate Baseball. The Cougars 2018 signing class features 21 newcomers including 12 who earned All-State honors, one Junior College All-American and a pair of high school signees who were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.

2019 SIGNING CLASS (will be here this fall AND play spring, 2020)
Anthony Amicangelo (OF, RS-Jr.)    Bremerton, Wash. (Johnson County CC)
Sam Ballard (LHP, Jr.)    Alton, Ill. (Parkland College)
Jason Bugni (C, Fr.)    Ellensburg, Wash. (Ellensburg HS)
Bryson Hashimoto (INF, Fr.)    San Diego, Calif. (Sante Fe Christian HS)
Brady Hill (OF, Fr.)    Spokane, Wash. (Mt. Spokane HS)
Joseph King (C/RHP, Fr.)    Redwood City, Calif. (Woodside HS)
Tyler Magin (RHP, Fr.)    Phoenix, Ariz. (Desert Vista HS)
Will Simpson (1B/OF, Fr.    Sammamish, Wash. (Skyline HS)
Drew Stahl (INF, Fr.)    Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Mountain Vista HS)
Noah Stecher (INF, Fr.)    Vancounver, Wash. (Hockinson HS)
Micky Thompson (LHP, Fr.)    Portland, Ore. (Century HS)
Justin Van De Brake (OF, Jr.)    Yakima, Wash. (Tacoma CC)

BOARD OF REGENTS APPROVES BASEBALL PROJECT - BTO
The Washington State Board of Regents Friday approved Project: BTO (Back to Omaha) Jan. 25, the baseball facility project to modernize and upgrade Bailey-Brayton Field. "Gaining approval for this project, which is funded solely on private donations, is a testament to a lot of hard work by many people, " said Washington State Director of Athletics Pat Chun. "Upgrading Bailey-Brayton Field was a necessity and provides Marty Lees and his staff the opportunity to attract top talent to Washington State, develop current talent, and return the program to a place of prominence." The state-of-the-art facility renovation and enhancement will cost approximately $10 million. 100 percent of the project costs will be covered through private donations. WSU Athletics was able to secure nearly $2 million in new gifts and pledges over the past 12 months to reach the $10 million goal. The project will feature a locker room, coaches offices, team meeting rooms, a players lounge, as well as recognition of Cougar Baseball's storied history. Construction is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2019, with completion in time for the 2021 baseball season. "What a great day to be a Coug," said WSU Head Coach Marty Lees. "Thank you to the Board of Regents, our administration, alumni, donors and fans. This will provide a tremendous boost to our current and future players and we couldn't be more excited for what the future holds surrounding Cougar Baseball."

JOHN OLERUD NAMED TO 2019 PAC-12 HALL OF HONOR
The Pac-12 Conference announced the 2019 class to be inducted into the Pac-12 Hall of Honor. Washington State's representative was legend John Olerud, the Pac-12 Conference's Baseball Player of the Century. During his three seasons in a Cougar uniform, Olerud (1987-89) had one of the finest careers of any Cougar student-athlete, in any sport, in Washington State history, rewriting the WSU record books and becoming the only Cougar baseball athlete ever to be named College Athlete of the Year. In 1988, Olerud became the only player in NCAA history to win 15 games on the mound and hit 20 home runs in the same season, going 15-0 with 23 home runs that year. Still holding numerous WSU records, Olerud went 26-4 overall with a 3.17 ERA over 241.1 innings during his three seasons, hitting .434 for Washington State. He set two Pac-10 records and 10 Pac-10 North marks, highlighted by his sophomore season when he was named Athlete of the Year by Baseball America. In January prior to his junior year at WSU, Olerud suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a type of brain seizure. He missed the first 28 games of the spring season, but returned to hit .359 for WSU over the final 27 games. Prior to his senior season, Olerud signed a contract with Toronto and went directly to the Major Leagues. In 1993, he became the first Blue Jay to win a batting title, hitting .363. Olerud played for Toronto, the New York Mets and Yankees, Seattle and Boston during his 17-year career, winning back-to-back World Series titles with Toronto in 1992 and 1993. In 2001 he joined his father, John Sr., in the WSU Athletics Hall of Fame, and is a member of the College Baseball, State of Washington and Inland Northwest Sports Halls of Fame. The John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, given annually by the College Baseball Hall of Fame, was named in his honor and in 2016, he was named the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Century, selected by a 36-member blue ribbon panel of experts selected by the conference.

The 2019 Hall of Honor class will be the 18th since its creation in 2002:
Meg Ritchie-Stone (Arizona), Dick Gould (Stanford), Frank Kush (Arizona State), Ann Meyers Drysdale (UCLA), Natalie Coughlin (California), Ronnie Lott (USC), Lisa Van Goor (Colorado), Steve Smith Sr. (Utah), Bev Smith (Oregon), Patricia "Trish" Bostrom (Washington), Dick Fosbury (Oregon State), John Olerud (Washington State).

MLB DRAFT PICKS UNDER MARTY LEES
Since Marty Lees arrived at Washington State for the 2016 season, 10 Cougars have been drafted: 
2016, Ian Hamilton, RHP, 11th round, Chicago White Sox
2016, Layne Bruner, LHP, 18th round, Baltimore Orioles
2016, Trek Stemp, 2B, 29th round, Tampa Bay Rays
2017, Damon Jones, LHP, 18th round, Philadelphia Phillies
2017, Shane Matheny, 3B, 23rd round, San Francisco Giants
2017, Colby Nealy, RHP, 35th round, Los Angeles Dodgers
2018, Parker McFadden, RHP, 16th round, Baltimore Orioles
2018, Scotty Sunitsch, LHP, 18th round, Milwaukee Brewers
2018, Ryan Walker, RHP, 31st round, San Francisco Giants
2018, Justin Harrer, INF,  35th round, Pittsburgh Pirates

Below is a list of current Cougars who were drafted out of high school:
2016, Danny Sinatro, OF, 40th round, Cleveland Indians
2016, A.J. Block, LHP, 39th round, Chicago Cubs
2017, Jack Smith, INF, 39th round, Seattle Mariners
2018, Brandon White, RHP, 14th round, Los Angeles Dodgers
2018, Ky Bush, LHP, 40th round, Kansas City Royals

WHO'S GONE?
The Cougars return four position starts and two pitchers from its weekend rotation in 2019. 
Here are a couple of significant losses:
Blake Clanton (DH) - Graduated, All-Pac-12 HM, .350, 13 2B, 10 HR, 35 RBI
Justin Harrer (OF) - Drafted, 35th RD, Pittsburgh, 11 HR, 30 RBI
JJ Hancock (OF) - Graduated, .278, 7 2B, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 4 SB
Scotty Sunitsch (LHP) - Drafted, 18th RD, Milwaukee, All-Pac-12 HM, 6-4, 3.74 ERA, 84.1 IP, 74 K, No-Hitter at ORE
Ryan Walker (RHP) - Drafted, 31st RD, San Francisco, 23 APP, 4-4, 5 SV, 46.1 IP, 47 K
Parker McFadden (RHP) - Drafted, 16th RD, Baltimore, 15 APP, 1-1, 3.56 ERA, 30.1 IP, 46 K

BY THE NUMBERS IN 2018
36 - WSU's 36 home runs were the most since 2010
25 - WSU played 25 games that were decided by two runs or less (10-14-1)
18 - WSU played 18 one-run games in 2018 and went 9-9 in those games
9 - WSU had 9 comeback wins in 2018 including four of walkoff variety
7 - WSU had 7 last at-bat wins in 2018 including against Gonzaga (4/3)
2 - WSU threw 2 no-hitters in 2018 for the first time since 1976
1 - Danny Sinatro's 1st career homer was an inside-the-parker against Santa Clara (4/21), it was the 1st inside-the-park homer for WSU since Yale Rosen did so in 2013

ABOUT ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH / PITCHING COACH DAN SPENCER 
Dan Spencer oversees WSU's pitching staff and reunited with Lees as the two spent four seasons together at Oregon State, winning back-to-back College World Series titles in 2006 and 2007. Spencer coached three seasons with the New Mexico Lobos after serving the previous four years as the head coach of Texas Tech, compiling a 115-112 record. Before joining Texas Tech for the 2008 season, Spencer spent 11 seasons at Oregon State as the Beavers hitting coach (1997-2003) and pitching coach (2004-2007). He began his head coaching career at Green River Community College (1992-96) in Auburn, Wash. In 1992 and 1994 he was named the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Coach of the Year. A native of Vancouver, Wash., Spencer received his bachelor's degree in history from Portland State University in 1990. He and his wife, Susie, have three children: Wade, Logan, and Elizabeth.

ABOUT ASSISTANT COACH JIM HORNER
Jim Horner, a first-team All-Pacific-10 player for the Cougars in 1996, jumped at the opportunity to return to the Palouse after managing the Seattle Mariners Double-A affiliate Jackson Generals (Tenn.) for the 2014 season and the first half of the 2015 campaign. Horner owns seven-plus years of managerial experience, serving as the skipper of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Seattle – Low-A) from 2006-07 and the High Desert Mavericks (Seattle - High-A) from 2008-10 and 2013. In 2009, he was named California League Manager of the Year and Seattle Mariners Staff Member of the Year after guiding the Mavericks to South Division first and second half titles. From 2011-12, Horner coached two seasons at Texas Tech as the hitting coach under then head coach Dan Spencer. Horner joined the coaching ranks immediately after completing a nine-year professional playing career, all with the Mariners' organization. He was a catcher in the Seattle farm system from 1996-2004. In 2000, Horner reached the Triple-A level with the Tacoma Rainiers. Horner played at Washington State for coaches Bobo Brayton (1993-94) and Steve Farrington (1995-96). The Twin Falls, Idaho native earned first-team All-Pac-10 Conference honors as a senior after leading the Cougars with a .332 batting average. Horner was also named the Pacific-10 Conference Medal Winner for Washington State as WSU's top male student-athlete and received all-academic honors while earning a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Jim and his wife, Katie, have four children: daughters, Madison and Reagan, and sons, Jackson and Tyler.