Pac-12 Baseball Weekly Rundown – April 11, 2024

April 12, 2024 News, Pac 12 Baseball, Uncategorized

Schedule // Standings // Pac-12 Stats // Pac-12 Stats (PDF) // NCAA Statistics LEADING OFF:  2 of the hottest teams in the conference square off in Eugene this weekend with USC and #22 OREGON both 8-2 in their last 10 games.  The Trojans are coming off a weekend sweep of Washington and a win over #14 UC Irvine.  Ethan Hedges has been one of the key bats in the USC resurgence, hitting .419 with 16 runs scored in the last 12 games (which the Trojans have won 9).   Jacob Walsh has 4 home runs in the last 5 games and is now the Ducks’ all-time leader with 34 career home runs.#5 OREGON STATE is 1 of 5 D1 schools who have yet to lose at home this season (17-0) and will take a 20-game home win streak into this weekend’s series with STANFORD.  Beavers All-American Travis Bazzana hit his 35th career home run on Tuesday to break the school’s all-time record while also setting the school’s career record for total bases.  The Cardinal have won their last 5 games against the Beavers, dating back to the 2022 season.  Stanford has won 5 of Christian Lim’s last 6 starts and in those 6 he has allowed just 7 earned runs in 37.2 innings (1.67 ERA) while striking out 46.The hottest team in the Pac-12 right now is ARIZONA who takes an 8-game winning streak into a non-conference series with Louisiana Tech (26-9) this weekend.  Mason White had a pair of 3-run homers in a non-conference win at Stanford on Monday, his first multi-home run game of his career.  The Wildcats lead the Pac-12 with a 3.15 ERA in conference play and Cam Walty is tied for the league lead with 5 wins.UTAH has won 7 of their last 10 and now have back-to-back seasons with 20+ wins for the first time since 2016-17.  Kai Roberts is 14-33 (.424) over the last 7 games with 7 stolen bases as he broke the school’s career record for steals.  The Utes travel to the desert to take on ARIZONA STATE for the weekend.  The Sun Devils have a Pac-12 leading 84 doubles this season, 5th most in the country, with Ryan Campos atop the conference collecting 15 doubles of his own.CALIFORNIA’s bats broke out in a big way on Wednesday at Saint Mary’s with a 14-11 win to snap a 4-game losing streak.  Freshman PJ Moutzouridis was 3-6 with 2 runs scored in that game and has multiple hits in 6 of his last 12 games.  The Bears will be in Pullman this weekend where WASHINGTON STATE has won their last 5 home games.  Joey Kramer is 21-44 (.477) in the Cougars 11 home games this season with 10 runs scored and 10 RBI.UCLA and WASHINGTON are both looking to get back this weekend.  The Bruins have struggled on the road this season and are looking for their first series win in Seattle since 2014.  In 8 career games against the Huskies, Duce Gourson is 14-28 (.500) with 8 runs scored and 6 RBI.  AJ Guerrero had 2 home runs for Washington on Tuesday and has 5 HR, 13 RBI and 9 runs scored in the last 7 games. RankingsUSA Today Coaches:  #5 Oregon State, #22 Oregon   RV:  UtahBaseball America:  #8 Oregon State, #17 OregonD1Baseball:  #5 Oregon State, #18 OregonNCBWA:  #5 Oregon State, #19 Oregon   RV: UtahPerfect Game:  #4 Oregon StateRPI:  Through games of Wednesday, April 10, the Pac-12 has 7 teams in the Top 100, 1 of 6 conferences to do that.   Oregon State has the highest rating at #11, thanks to a 14-4 record against the Top 100.  Arizona was the 2nd highest rated Pac-12 team at #41, having played the most Top 100 games in the conference (23).NATIONAL AWARDSNBCWA Dick Howser Trophy National Player of the MonthMarch – INF Travis Bazzana, Oregon State NBCWA Dick Howser Trophy National Pitcher of the WeekApril 2 – RHP Grant Taylor, Washington State Perfect Game National Player of the WeekFeb. 20 – INF Travis Bazzana, Oregon State (co-winner)March 26 – INF Travis Bazzana, Oregon State (co-winner) Perfect Game National Pitcher of the WeekApril 2 – RHP Grant Taylor, Washington State (co-winner)FIELD OF 64 PROJECTIONS:Baseball America (April 10):  Oregon State (#1 seed, 6 overall), Oregon (#2 seed),  Utah (#3 seed), Arizona (#3 seed)D1Baseball (April 3):  Oregon State (#1 seed, 5 overall), Oregon (#3 seed), Utah (#3 seed), Arizona #3 seed, Last 4 In)Perfect Game (April 5):  Oregon State (#1 seed, 6 overall), Arizona (#3 seed), Oregon (#3 seed, Last 4 In), Utah (Last 4 Out)MIDSEASON WATCH LISTGolden Spikes Award2BTravis Bazzana, Oregon StateCCaleb Lomavita, CaliforniaBEAVERS 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, who’s 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 league’s 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-AMERICANSD1 Baseball1st Team – 2B Travis Bazzana (Oregon State)3rd Team – OF Austin Overn (USC)Baseball America1st 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)NCBWA1st Team – 2B Travis Bazzana (Oregon State)2nd Team – RP Austin Anderson (Oregon)3rd Team – RP Micah Ashman (Utah)Perfect Game1st Team – INF Travis Bazzana (Oregon State)2nd Team – 2B Duce Gourson (UCLA), DH Malcolm Moore (Stanford)PRESEASON AWARD WATCH LISTSGolden Spikes AwardINF Travis Bazzana (Oregon State)OF Rodney Green Jr. (California)C Caleb Lomavita (California)C Malcolm Moore (Stanford)Bobby Bragan National Collegiate SluggerTravis 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 YearAustin Anderson (Oregon)Micah Ashman (Utah)Josh Emanuels (Washington)Chase Grillo (Washington State)Rashad Ruff (UCLA)D1BASEBALL PRESEASON POSITIONAL PLAYER RANKINGSCatchers (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 Nu’u 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 LISTSBest 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 Conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.ON DECK (Full Schedule) Friday, April 12  USC at #22 OregonOregon Live Stream5:05 p.m PTCalifornia at Washington StatePac-12 Washington6:00 p.m. PTLouisiana Tech at ArizonaArizona Live Stream6:00 p.m. PTStanford at #5 Oregon StatePac-12 Oregon6:00 p.m. PTUCLA at WashingtonWashington Live Stream6:05 p.m. PTUtah at Arizona StateASU Live Stream6:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. MTSaturday, April 13  California at Washington StatePac-12 Networks2:00 p.m. PTUCLA at WashingtonWashington Live Stream2:05 p.m. PTUSC at #22 OregonOregon Live Stream2:05 p.m. PTStanford at #5 Oregon StatePac-12 Networks5:00 p.m. PTLouisiana Tech at ArizonaArizona Live Stream6:00 p.m. PTUtah at Arizona StateASU Live Stream6:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. MTSunday, April 14  Louisiana Tech at ArizonaArizona Live Stream10:00 a.m. PTCalifornia at Washington StatePac-12 Washington12:00 p.m. PTStanford at #5 Oregon StatePac-12 Networks12:00 p.m. PTUSC at #22 OregonOregon Live Stream12:05 p.m. PTUtah at Arizona StateASU Live Stream1:00 p.m. PT/2:00 p.m. MTUCLA at WashingtonWashington Live Stream1:05 p.m. PTTuesday, April 16  Utah Valley at UtahUtah Live Stream10:00 a.m. PT/11:00 a.m. MTGonzaga at #22 OregonPac-12 Networks12:05 p.m. PTPortland at WashingtonWashington Live Stream4:05 p.m. PTUCLA at UC Santa Barbara 4:35 p.m. PTArizona State at Cal State FullertonESPN+6:00 p.m. PTSacramento State at StanfordStanford Live Stream6:05 p.m. PTSan Francisco at CaliforniaPac-12 Insider6:05 p.m. PTSan Diego at USCUSC Live Stream6:30 p.m. PTArizona at Grand CanyonESPN+7:00 p.m. PTWednesday, April 17  Arizona State at Cal State FullertonESPN+6:00 p.m. PTUSC at #14 UC IrvineESPN+6:00 p.m. PTOregon State at NevadaTheMW.com6:05 p.m. PTWashington State at Grand Canyon 7:00 p.m. PT2024 CONFERENCE STANDINGS (Expanded Standings) TeamsPac-12 RecordOverall Record#5 Oregon State8-327-4Arizona10-518-13Oregon8-423-9USC9-516-16Utah7-521-10Stanford6-613-17Washington State7-817-14Arizona State6-915-18California5-1017-14UCLA5-1012-18Washington3-99-16-12024 PAC-12 WEEKLY AWARDS PlayerPitcherFeb. 19Travis Bazzana, Oregon StateJackson Kent, ArizonaFeb. 26Mason Guerra, Oregon StateJacob Kmatz, Oregon StateMarch 4Travis Bazzana, Oregon StateChristian Lim, StanfordMarch 11Jacob Walsh, OregonMatt Scott, StanfordMarch 18Jeter Ybarra, WashingtonConnor Markl, Arizona StateMarch 25Travis Bazzana, Oregon StateChristian Lim, StanfordApril 1Ryan Campos, Arizona StateGrant Taylor, Washington StateApril 8Gavin Turley, Oregon StateJacob Kmatz, Oregon State- Pac-12.com –