Baseball Pac-12 Conference

Pac-12 Baseball Weekly Rundown - May 15, 2024

Schedule // Standings // Pac-12 Stats // Pac-12 Stats (PDF ) // NCAA Statistics

LEADING OFF: As we head into the final weekend of the regular season, 7 teams have already qualified for the Pac-12 Tournament:  ARIZONA, OREGON STATE, OREGON, UTAH, ARIZONA STATE, USC, and CALIFORNIA.  3 teams are still competing for the final 2 spots with STANFORD holding any eventual tiebreakers over WASHINGTON and WASHINGTON STATE.

The regular season title and #1 seed in the tournament will be decided this weekend in Tucson as Oregon State visits Arizona.  Arizona needs just 1 win to clinch the title, while Oregon State would need to sweep the 3-game series. Travis Bazzana has an 8-game hitting streak going 14-29 (.483) with 6 HR and 17 runs scored and now owns the OSU career record in hits, runs, home runs, walks, stolen bases and total bases.  In 9 conference starts, Clark Candiotti is 6-2 for the Wildcats with a 2.33 ERA and even tougher at home against conference opponents where hes allowed just 3 earned runs in 29.0 innings (0.93 ERA).

Oregon is still in the mix for the #2 seed, hosting Washington State this weekend, as they own tiebreakers over both Arizona and Utah.  Shortstop Maddox Molony has homered in 3 of the last 4 games to set the Ducks freshman HR record.  The Cougars, who would not have the tiebreaker over Stanford or Washington, need at least 2 wins and some help this weekend to qualify for the Pac-12 Tournament.  Thursdays starter, Grant Taylor , needs 8 strikeouts to become the 7th pitcher in WSU history to reach 100 strikeouts in a season and the first since 2009.

Utah and USC are battling it for seeding this weekend in Southern California, with both teams potentially finishing anywhere from 2nd to 7th.  The Utes, who are 17-10 away from home this season, will hand the ball to Bryson Van Sickle, who is the first Utah pitcher with multiple complete games in a season since 2008.  Freshman Kevin Takeuchi has 11 RBI for the Trojans over the last 9 games.

Stanford needs just one win or a WSU loss this weekend to clinch their spot as the Cardinal visit UCLA. Jimmy Nati was 4-5 for Stanford on Sunday against ASU with 2 HR and 5 RBI, his second multi-homer game of the season.  UCLA will wrap up their season this weekend but have gotten positive contributions from their freshmen, including Roch Cholowsky who has 7 of his 8 HR this season coming in the last 12 games.

WASHINGTON, who owns the tiebreaker over Washington State, has a magic number of 2 (UW wins or WSU losses) to book their flights to the Desert.  The Huskies, who visit Cal this weekend, are riding the hot bat of AJ Guerrrero who has hit safely in 11 of the last 12 games with 7 multi-hit games, 5 HR and 20 RBI in that span.  The Bears will be playing for seeding this weekend and have gotten their best pitching of the season in the month of May with a 3.38 ERA. Caleb Lomavita (14) and Rodney Green Jr. (13) make Cal 1 of only 2 Pac-12 teams with multiple players with 13+ HR this season.

ARIZONA STATE is the lone team with their regular season conference slate complete and will be scoreboard watching this weekend to see what seed they will have in Scottsdale. Nick McLain , the reigning 2-time Pac-12 Player of the Week, is batting .568 (21-37) with 7 HR, 19 RBI, and 16 runs scored in 8 games this month.

Rankings

FIELD OF 64 PROJECTIONS:

Baseball America ( May 15 ):  Oregon State (#1 seed, 13 overall), Arizona (#2 seed), Oregon (#3 seed), California (Next Four Out)

D1Baseball ( May 15 ):  Oregon State (#1 seed, 13 overall), Arizona ( #2 seed), Oregon (#2 seed), Utah (#3 seed, Last Four In)

RPI :  Through games of Tuesday, May 14, the Pac-12 has 7 teams in the Top 100 with 3 of them in the Top 50.  Oregon State is the highest rated team at #14 thanks to their 17-9 mark against the Top 100.  Arizona, who owns the toughest non-conference strength of schedule in the country, sits at #27 and have a Pac-12 high 18 wins against the Top 100 including a 14-4 record in Quad 2 games.

NATIONAL AWARDS

NBCWA Dick Howser Trophy National Player of the Month

  • March - INF Travis Bazzana , Oregon State

D1Baseball National Pitcher of the Week

  • April 15 - LHP Bryson Van Sickle , Utah
  • April 29 - RHP Aiden May , Oregon State

D1Baseball National Player of the Week

  • May 7 - OF Nick McLain , Arizona State

NBCWA Dick Howser Trophy National Pitcher of the Week

  • April 2 - RHP Grant Taylor , Washington State
  • April 29 - RHP Aiden May , Oregon State

NBCWA Dick Howser Trophy National Hitter of the Week

  • April 23 - 1B/OF Jacob Walsh , Oregon (co-winner)
  • May 7 - OF Nick McLain , Arizona State (co-winner)

Perfect Game National Player of the Week

  • Feb. 20 - INF Travis Bazzana , Oregon State (co-winner)
  • March 26 - INF Travis Bazzana , Oregon State (co-winner)

Perfect Game National Pitcher of the Week

  • April 2 - RHP Grant Taylor , Washington State (co-winner)
  • April 29 - RHP Aiden May , Oregon State

MIDSEASON WATCH LIST

NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award

  • Micah Ashman, Utah
  • Bridger Holmes, Oregon State
  • Logan Mercado , Oregon
  • Bradley Mullan , Oregon
  • Rashad Ruff , UCLA

Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award

  • Bennett Thompson, Oregon
  • Jacob Morrow, Washington State
  • Malcolm Moore , Stanford
  • Ryan Campos , Arizona State
  • Tanner Smith , Oregon State
  • Will Cresswell , Washington State

Golden Spikes Award

  • 2B Travis Bazzana, Oregon State
  • C Caleb Lomavita, California

BEAVERS EARLY FAVORITES: Oregon State, who has finished 2nd in the regular season standings each of the last 2 seasons, was picked by the Pac-12 coaches as the favorite to win the conference.  The Beavers received 8 of the 11 first place votes and are looking for its first Pac-12 title since 2017.  Stanford, whos won the last 2 regular season titles, was 2nd and had 2 first place votes while UCLA was picked 3rd and received the other first place vote.

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM :  For the 2nd straight year, the conference released a Preseason All-Conference team as voted on by the leagues 11 coaches. Oregon State, Arizona State and California all led the league with 5 selections each. The 33-person team featured 18 players that earned Pac-12 honors last spring including 8 all-conference selections highlighted by preseason All-Americans Travis Bazzana (Oregon State), Malcolm Moore (Stanford), Austin Overn (USC), Duce Gourson (UCLA) and Micah Ashman (Utah).

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS

D1 Baseball

  • 1st Team - 2B Travis Bazzana (Oregon State)
  • 3rd Team - OF Austin Overn (USC)

Baseball America

  • 1st Team - C Malcolm Moore (Stanford)
  • 2nd Team - C Caleb Lomavita (California), 2B Travis Bazzana (Oregon State)
  • 3rd Team - 2B Duce Gourson (UCLA), SP Matt Scott (Stanford)

NCBWA

  • 1st Team - 2B Travis Bazzana (Oregon State)
  • 2nd Team - RP Austin Anderson (Oregon)
  • 3rd Team - RP Micah Ashman (Utah)

Perfect Game

  • 1st Team - INF Travis Bazzana (Oregon State)
  • 2nd Team - 2B Duce Gourson (UCLA), DH Malcolm Moore (Stanford)

PRESEASON AWARD WATCH LISTS

Golden Spikes Award

  • INF Travis Bazzana (Oregon State)
  • OF Rodney Green Jr. (California)
  • C Caleb Lomavita (California)
  • C Malcolm Moore (Stanford)

Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger

  • Travis Bazzana (Oregon State)
  • Emilio Corona (Arizona)
  • Elijah Hainline (Oregon State)
  • Malcolm Moore (Stanford)
  • Bennett Thompson (Oregon)
  • Jacob Walsh (Oregon)
  • Mason White (Arizona)

NCBWA Stopper of the Year

  • Austin Anderson (Oregon)
  • Micah Ashman (Utah)
  • Josh Emanuels (Washington)
  • Chase Grillo (Washington State)
  • Rashad Ruff (UCLA)

D1BASEBALL PRESEASON POSITIONAL PLAYER RANKINGS

Catchers (Top 50)

  • #6 Malcolm Moore (Stanford)
  • #7 Caleb Lomavita (California)
  • #10 Ryan Campos (Arizona State)
  • #49 Bennett Thompson (Oregon)

First Basemen (Top 50)

  • #15 Mason Guerra (Oregon State)
  • #44 Jacob Tobias (Arizona State)
  • #50 Jacob Walsh (Oregon)

Second Basemen (Top 50)

  • #1 Travis Bazzana (Oregon State)
  • #4 Duce Gourson (UCLA)
  • #45 Owen Cobb (Stanford)

Shortstops (Top 50)

  • #8 Cam Clayton (Washington)
  • #12 Cody Schrier (UCLA)
  • #16 Elijah Hainline (Oregon State)
  • #17 Mason White (Arizona)
  • #50 Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek (USC)

Third Baseman (Top 50)

  • #15 Trent Caraway (Oregon State)
  • #18 Drew Smith (Oregon)
  • #46 Nuu Contrades (Arizona State)

Outfielders (Top 100)

  • #8 Austin Overn (USC)
  • #19 Rodney Green Jr. (California)
  • #20 Gavin Turley (Oregon State)
  • #22 TJ Clarkson (Utah)
  • #29 AJ Guerrero (Washington)
  • #32 Justin Cassella (Oregon)
  • #78 Micah McDowell (Oregon State)
  • #86 Brady Kasper (Oregon)
  • #88 Harris Williams (Arizona State)

Starting Pitchers (Top 150)

  • #36 Aiden May (Oregon State)
  • #39 Matt Scott (Stanford)
  • #47 Caden Aoki (USC)
  • #79 Ian May (California)
  • #91 Luke Jewett (UCLA)
  • #106 Jacob Kmatz (Oregon State)
  • #128 Jackson Kent (Arizona)
  • #133 Nick Dugan (Stanford)
  • #144 Grant Taylor (Washington State)
  • #145 Tyler Stromsborg (USC)

Relief Pitchers (Top 50)

  • #41 Micah Ashman (Utah)
  • #45 Cody Delvecchio (UCLA)
  • #48 Josh Blum (USC)

Impact Transfers (Top 130)

  • #15 RHP Aiden May (Oregon State via Arizona)
  • #24 INF Elijah Hainline (Oregon State via Washington State)
  • #60 OF Justin Cassella (Oregon via Elon)
  • #99 RHP Kassius Thomas (Stanford via Duke)
  • #117 RHP Xavier Martinez (USC via Cal State Northridge)
  • #119 OF Jeffery Heard (Oregon via Sacramento State)

BASEBALL AMERICA PRESEASON LISTS

  • Best Pure Hitter - #2 Travis Bazzana (Oregon State)
  • Fastest Runner -  #2 Austin Overn (USC)
  • Best Defensive Outfielder - #3 Austin Overn (USC)
  • Best Outfield Arm - #3 Nick McLain (Arizona State)
  • Closest to the Majors - #3 Travis Bazzana (Oregon State)

FIELD OF 64 PRESEASON PROJECTIONS:

Baseball America : Oregon State (1 seed), Stanford (2 seed), UCLA (2 seed), Oregon (3 seed), USC (3 seed), Arizona State (First Four Out)

D1Baseball: Oregon State (1 seed), Stanford (2 seed), Arizona State (3 seed), Oregon (3 seed), UCLA (3 seed), USC (3 seed)

MADE IN AMERICA :  3 current Pac-12 players made the 2023 Collegiate National Team Roster that went 7-3 this summer, sweeping 5 games with Taiwan and going 3-2 against Japan. The Pac-12 was represented by INF Duce Gourson (UCLA), OF Rodney Green Jr. (Cal), and C Malcolm Moore (Stanford).  Former Stanford OF/P Braden Montgomery was also on the team prior to his transfer in August.

2024 PAC-12 BASEBALL TOURNAMENT: Once again, the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament returns to Scottsdale Stadium May 21-25, 2024 for year 3 at the Spring Training home of the San Francisco Giants. The tournament will once again feature pool play, with the top 9 teams in the Conference standings will earn berths to the tournament. The teams will be split into three pools based on their regular season finish with the top team from each pool advancing to the semifinals. The fourth semifinal spot will be determined by the top record of the non-advancing teams, with any tiebreakers going to the higher seed.

The champion will receive the Conferences automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

ON DECK ( Full Schedule )

Thursday, May 16
#6 Oregon State at #19 Arizona Pac-12 Networks 6:00 p.m. PT
Washington State at #24 Oregon Pac-12 Washington 6:05 p.m. PT
Texas Tech at Arizona State Pac-12 Arizona 6:30 p.m. PT
Utah at USC USC Live Stream 6:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. MT
Stanford at UCLA Pac-12 Los Angeles 7:00 p.m. PT
Washington at California Pac-12 Bay Area 7:05 p.m. PT
Friday, May 17
#6 Oregon State at #19 Arizona Pac-12 Networks 6:00 p.m. PT
Stanford at UCLA Pac-12 Los Angeles 6:00 p.m. PT
Washington State at #24 Oregon Pac-12 Washington 6:05 p.m. PT
Washington at California Pac-12 Bay Area 6:05 p.m. PT
Texas Tech at Arizona State Pac-12 Arizona 6:30 p.m. PT
Utah at USC USC Live Stream 6:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. PT
Saturday, May 18
Stanford at UCLA Pac-12 Networks 12:00 p.m. PT
Washington State at #24 Oregon Pac-12 Networks 12:05 p.m. PT
Washington at California Pac-12 Washington 12:05 p.m. PT
Utah at USC USC  Live Stream 1:00 p.m. PT/2:00 p.m. MT
#6 Oregon State at #19 Arizona Pac-12 Networks 6:00 p.m. PT
UNLV at Arizona State Pac-12 Arizona 6:30 p.m. PT
Tuesday, May 21
Pac-12 Tournament - #8 seed vs. #5 seed Pac-12 Networks 10:00 a.m. PT
Pac-12 Tournament - #7 seed vs. #4 seed Pac-12 Networks 2:30 p.m. PT
Pac-12 Tournament - #9 seed vs. #6 seed Pac-12 Networks 7:00 p.m. PT
Wednesday, May 22
Pac-12 Tournament - #2 seed vs. #8 seed Pac-12 Networks 10:00 a.m. PT
Pac-12 Tournament - #3 seed vs. #7 seed Pac-12 Networks 2:30 p.m. PT
Pac-12 Tournament - #1 seed vs. #9 seed Pac-12 Networks 7:00 p.m. PT
Thursday, May 23
Pac-12 Tournament - #5 seed vs. #2 seed Pac-12 Networks 10:00 a.m. PT
Pac-12 Tournament - #4 seed vs. #3 seed Pac-12 Networks 2:30 p.m. PT
Pac-12 Tournament - #6 seed vs. #1 seed Pac-12 Networks 7:00 p.m. PT
Friday, May 24
Pac-12 Tournament - Semifinal #1 Pac-12 Networks 2:30 p.m. PT
Pac-12 Tournament - Semifinal #2 Pac-12 Networks 7:00 p.m. PT
Saturday, May 25
Pac-12 Tournament - Final ESPNU 7:00 p.m. PT

2024 CONFERENCE STANDINGS ( Expanded Standings )

Teams Pac-12 Record Overall Record
#19 Arizona 19-8 32-18
#6 Oregon State 17-9 39-12
#24 Oregon 16-11 34-16
Utah 16-11 32-18
Arizona State 17-13 29-24
USC 14-12 25-27
California 14-13 31-18
Stanford 11-16 20-29
Washington 10-17 19-26-1
Washington State 9-18 21-29
UCLA 6-21 16-33

2024 PAC-12 WEEKLY AWARDS

Player Pitcher
Feb. 19 Travis Bazzana , Oregon State Jackson Kent , Arizona
Feb. 26 Mason Guerra , Oregon State Jacob Kmatz , Oregon State
March 4 Travis Bazzana , Oregon State Christian Lim , Stanford
March 11 Jacob Walsh , Oregon Matt Scott , Stanford
March 18 Jeter Ybarra , Washington Connor Markl , Arizona State
March 25 Travis Bazzana , Oregon State Christian Lim , Stanford
April 1 Ryan Campos , Arizona State Grant Taylor, Washington State
April 8 Gavin Turley , Oregon State Jacob Kmatz , Oregon State
April 15 TJ Clarkson , Utah Bryson Van Sickle , Utah
April 22 Seth Gwynn , California Trey Newmann , California
April 29 Ryan Campos , Arizona State Aiden May , Oregon State
May 6 Nick McLain , Arizona State Clark Candiotti , Arizona
May 13 Nick McLain , Arizona State Bryson Van Sickle , Utah