Cougars Close Regular Season Hosting Boeing Apple Cup Series

May 26, 2021

COUGARS CLOSE REGULAR SEASON HOSTING BOEING APPLE CUP SERIES
Washington State (24-22, 11-16 Pac-12) closes the regular season hosting a three-game series against Washington (19-28, 5-19 Pac-12) in the Boeing Apple Cup Series beginning Thursday on the Pac-12 Networks.

FOLLOW ALONG
Cougar baseball fans can follow all the season's action on the Washington State baseball official twitter page @wsucougarbsb, instagram page @wsucougarbsb and wsucougars.com. Links to live stats, webstreams and radio streams will be available on the baseball schedule page at wsucougars.com.

ON DECK
The 2021 NCAA Selection Show is set for Monday, May 31 at 9 a.m. (PT) on ESPN2.

LIMITED GUESTS ALLOWED AT BAILEY-BRAYTON
In accordance with Whitman County health and safety policies and protocols that follow campus, Pac-12 Conference, NCAA, local, state and federal guidelines, single-game tickets are available for all three games this weekend, Thursday-Saturday at Bailey-Brayton Field. Fans interested in tickets can purchase online. Tickets must be purchased in advanced, there will not be walk-up sales. Should you have any question, please contact the WSU ticket office via email at athletictickets@wsu.edu
UPDATE - Saturday's game is sold out of the allotted tickets. Tickets still remain for Thursday and Friday.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (Player Notes Pages 7-17)
Washington State enters the week with a 24-22 overall record and 11-16 in Pac-12 play after dropping two games at USC two weekends ago. WSU, who did not play last weekend, entered the week with an RPI of 68, are tied for the most road wins (16) among all Power-5 teams. WSU is second in the league in hitting (.300) and scoring (7.2 r/g), and are led by preseason All-American junior first baseman Kyle Manzardo (17 2B, 11 HR, 57 RBI) who enters the week as one of two players in the country with 17+ doubles, 11+ home runs and 55+ RBI. Two-time Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week Zane Mills is third in the Pac-12 in innings (71.0) and eighth in strikeouts (80). Head coach Brian Green owns a 33-29 record in his second season at WSU.

COUGAR QUICK HITS
TEAM
• WSU enters the week 2nd in the Pac-12 in hitting (.300) and scoring (7/2), 3rd in doubles (103) and slugging (.453)
• WSU is tied for the most road wins (16) by any Power-5 team in the country this season (Tennessee)
• WSU took 2 of 3 from No. 8 Oregon in Pullman, WSU's 1st series win over Top-10 team since 2016
• WSU posted a series win at Utah, its first Pac-12 road series win since 2017
• WSU posted a program-best 3.09 team GPA in the 2020 fall semester, 30 players had a semester GPA of 3.0+

INDIVIDUAL
• Brian Green is in his 2nd season at WSU (33-29) after 5 seasons leading New Mexico State (158-122-1)
• 1B Kyle Manzardo was named to the 2021 Preseason All-America Third Team (Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA)
• Manzardo enters the week 3rd in the Pac-12 in RBI (57), hitting (.377) and total bases (121), 5th in doubles (17)
• Manzardo earned Pac-12 Player of the Week after UCLA series, hit .533, 7 runs, 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, .632 OB%
• RHP Zane Mills earned his 2nd Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week after his CG win at Cal (10 K)
• OF Collin Montez enters the week tied for 11th in the Pac-12 in runs (43)
• SS Kodie Kolden was named a Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist, given to top collegiate shortstop
• LHP Michael Newstrom owns the WSU single-season record with 32 appearances, 3rd in the country

ABOUT WASHINGTON
Washington enters the weekend with a 19-28 overall record including a 5-19 mark in Pac-12 play after taking two of three against Utah in Seattle last weekend. The Cougars lead the all-time series 244-197 but Washington has won the last two series including the last series played in Pullman in 2019. WSU leads the all-time series in Pullman 124-76.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
10,000,000 - A $10 million baseball clubhouse facility is complete, Project: BTO (Back To Omaha)
156 - WSU entered the week tied for 5th in the Pac-12 with 156 extra bases hits (42 HR, 103 2B, 11 3B)
103 - WSU entered the week 3rd in the Pac-12 with 103 doubles, No. 25 in the country
68 - WSU entered the week with a No. 68 RPI
62 - WSU entered the week 2nd in the Pac-12 with 62 doubles in conference play
57 - Kyle Manzardo entered the week 3rd in the Pac-12 with 57 RBI, No. 16 in the country, looking to be first Coug with 60+ RBI since Jim Murphy drove in 61 in 2008
43 - Manzardo had his WSU record 43-game on-base streak snapped in the series opener against Stanford
29 - WSU's 2020 recruiting class was rated No. 29 in the country according to Collegiate Baseball, 6th-best in the Pac-12 Conference, ahead of Oregon State, Oregon, California and Washington
27 - Manzardo had his 27-game hitting streak snapped March 7 against Seattle U, 2nd-longest in WSU history
17 - Brandon White retired the 17 batters he faced in the win at No. 18 Oregon State March 19, 7 IP, 7 K, 1 ER, W
16 - WSU's 16 road wins in 2021 are tied for the most by any Power-5 Conference team (Tennessee)
14 - WSU's 14 games scoring 10+ runs is the most by a Cougar team since 2010 (14)
9.2 - WSU's pitching staff entered the week 5th in the Pac-12 with 9.2 strikeouts/9 IP
7.2 - WSU entered the week averaging 7.2 runs-per-game, 2nd in the Pac-12 and No. 34 in the country

COUGS NOTCH NOTABLE WINS IN 2021
• WSU enters the series with a 24-22 record, is seeking its 1st winning season since 2015 (29-27)
• WSU enters the series with 11 Pac-12 win, is seeking its most conference wins since 2014 (14)
• WSU took 2 of 3 from No. 8 Oregon in Pullman to post 1st series win over Top-10 team since 2016 (No. 10 OSU)
• WSU took 2 of 3 at Cal in late April to post its 1st series win against the Golden Bears since 2015
• WSU took 2 of 3 at Utah to post its 1st Pac-12 road series win since 2017
• WSU beat No. 24 Stanford with 10-9 walkoff HBP in 10 innings (4/2), WSU's 1st win in the series since 2016
• WSU recorded its 1st win against Oregon State (3/19) since 2016 and 1st win in Corvallis since 2013
• WSU's 5-2 win at No. 18 Oregon State (3/19) gave WSU an 11-2 record for the 1st time since 2006
• WSU won its conference opener (5-2 at Oregon State) for 1st time since 2013
• WSU took 2 of 3 from Seattle U week 3 to open the season with 3 straight series wins for 1st time since 2008
• WSU swept a 4-game series at Dixie State week 2, its 1st 4-game road series sweep since 1993 (Hawaii-Hilo)
• WSU opened 2021 by taking 3 of 4 at UC Davis, the Cougars 1st series win on opening weekend since 2011

KYLE MANZARDO NAMED PAC-12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
First baseman Kyle Manzardo was named the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Week following the UCLA series. Manzardo earned his first Pac-12 Player of the Week honor of the season and second of his career after earning the final award in 2020. In WSU's four games last week against Seattle U and No. 16 UCLA, the junior hit .533 (8-15) with seven runs scored, one double, two homers, eight RBI, a .632 on-base percentage and slugged 1.000. Manzardo opened the week going 4-for-4 with a home run and five RBI in the win over Seattle U, later singled and scored twice in WSU's series-opening win over No. 16 UCLA, hit a go-ahead homer and doubled Saturday against UCLA and scored two more in the Sunday's finale.

ZANE MILLS EARNS SECOND PAC-12 PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONOR
Following his complete-game victory at California April 24, starting pitcher Zane Mills was named the Pac-12 Conference Pitcher of the Week. The junior righthander struck out 10 and allowed just two eighth-inning runs to earn the win and record WSU's first complete game effort since 2018. Mills also earned Pac-12 honors following his 13-strikeout performance against Seattle U in March and is the first Cougar to earn multiple Pac-12 Player/Pitcher of the Week honors since Joe Pistorese was named Pitcher of the Week twice in 2015.

INSIDE THE 21-2 WIN OVER NO. 13 ARIZONA
Washington State posted a 21-2 win over No. 13 Arizona in the April 16 series-opener in Pullman.
• WSU's 21 runs tied for 9th-most in school history, and were most against a Pac-12 opponent since scoring 21 against Oregon State (5/5/02)
• WSU's 23 hits tied for the 6th-most in school history, was the most since recording 23 against Seattle (2/21/10)
• Jack Smith tied a career-high with 4 hits
Jacob McKeon, Justin Van De Brake, Jake Meyer, and Kyle Russell each added 3 hits
• WSU's 8 doubles tied for 2nd-most in school history and most against a conference opponent
• WSU's 10-run 2nd inning was the most scored in an inning since its 12-run 1st inning vs. Niagara last season

WSU COMPLETES PROJECT: BTO (Photos on Back Page)
Washington State broke ground on the Cougar Baseball Facility Project: BTO (Back to Omaha) in October of 2019 and officially moved into its new home this past January. The state-of-the-art facility features a $10 million clubhouse facility, a new entrance to Bailey-Brayton Field, a 1,300 square-foot locker room, a 1,500 square-foot weight room, academic area, team meeting room, areas for Cougar equipment, nutrition and athletic medicine, coaches offices as well as recognition of WSU's storied history. In addition, the facility will enhance the game day experience for players, coaches and fans, and provide improved ingress and egress along with new public restrooms and concessions. All costs were all covered through donor support.

KYLE MANZARDO NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
Junior first baseman Kyle Manzardo was named to the 2021 Preseason All-America Third Team by Collegiate Baseball and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Manzardo, who earned All-American third-team honors from Collegiate Baseball last season, finished a shorted 2020 season with a .435 batting average with seven doubles, three home runs, 14 RBI, a .500 on-base percentage and a Pac-12 best 27 hits.

EARLY MARCH ROAD TRIP TO SEATTLE POSTPONED
Due to COVID-19 protocol developments within the Washington State baseball program, the Cougars four-game road trip to Seattle to face Seattle U and Washington March 11-13 was postponed.

IN THE CLASSROOM, IN THE COMMUNITY
Head coach Brian Green emphasized winning in the classroom and the community in his introductory press conference and the Cougs backed him up in his first two years at WSU.
- This past fall, the baseball program posted its highest semester GPA (3.09) in program history after 15 players posted a 3.0 GPA or better in the semester. The 3.09 mark broke the record of 3.05 set in the fall of 2019.
- The team started a viral campaign under Green named Meet The Professor where each baseball student-athlete introduces themselves and takes a selfie with their professor in the first class of each semester.
- Last January, the team gathered at a local elementary school and helped the Whitman County Special Olympics with basketball practice.

BRIAN GREEN IN SECOND SEASON LEADING COUGAR BASEBALL
Brian Green was named the 17th baseball coach in Washington State history June 3, 2019. Brian Green came to WSU after five seasons as the head coach at his alma mater New Mexico State where he led the Aggies to a 2019 Western Athletic Conference regular-season championship and an NCAA Regional appearance in 2018.In his five years at NMSU, Green produced nine All-Americans including three first-team selections in 2019, 26 All-WAC honorees, a pair of Player of the Year selections, one Pitcher of the Year, one Freshman of the Year, and 22 WAC All-Academic selections.

BRIAN GREEN BY THE NUMBERS
6,000 - Green's NMSU program volunteered over 6,000 hours of community service in his 5 years
2014 - Green recruited and coached 2014 Golden Spikes Award Winner AJ Reed at Kentucky, John Olerud Award
40 - Green's 2018 club won 40 games and earned a trip to the NCAA Regional
34 - Green won 34 or more games in each of the last 4 seasons at NMSU
4 - Coached 4 seasons at UCLA (2005-08), coached San Francisco Giant SS Brandon Crawford at UCLA
1st - WSU beat CSU Bakersfield 5-2 in the 2020 season-opener for its first season-opening win since 2011
.356 - In 2019, NMSU led the country in batting avg, runs, runs/g, hits, triples, on-base pct and slugging

JOHN OLERUD NAMED PAC-12 PLAYER OF THE CENTURY
The Pac-12 Conference inducted Coug legend John Olerud into the Pac-12 Hall of Honor in 2019. Olerud was named the Pac-12 Conference's Baseball Player of the Century in 2016. 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. Olerud went 26-4 overall with a 3.17 ERA over 241.1 innings during his three seasons, hitting .434. 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.

Update

Cougars Close Regular Season Hosting Boeing Apple Cup Series

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