UW Assistant Coach Kevin Miller (left) congratulates WSU Coach Donnie Marbut after the Friday, May 22 game, the first in a three-game series (Photo by Tim Marsh, University Relations)
The Cougars (31-23 overall and 19-8 in conference) finished second in the Pac-10 and were one of 34 at-large recipients to the 64-team field — the Big Dance of college baseball. WSU is the No. 3 seed in the regional playoffs hosted by the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla.
The Cougars and Razorbacks opened the 2009 season with a three-game series in Fayetteville, Ark., Feb. 20/22. Arkansas won 4-2, 7-5 (10 innings) and 4-3. WSU split a four-game series with Oklahoma in Pullman, Feb. 27-March 1.
WSU is the fifth Pac-10 team to lose its first three games and advance to the postseason joining Arizona (1979, South Division), Oregon State (1983, North Division), Portland (1991, North Division) and UCLA (1999). The Cougars are 7-13 against this year’s NCAA Tournament field and played their first 10 games of the season against regional participants.
This is the 15th NCAA postseason appearance for Washington State and the first for the school since 1990. The Cougars have made four College World Series appearances (1950, 1956, 1965, 1976) and their best finish is national runner-up in 1950.
