Washington State baseball looks to clinch conference tournament berth in final Mountain West series

May 7-Washington State's baseball team has won four consecutive Mountain West Conference series, putting itself in position to qualify for the conference tournament.

The Cougars (25-23, 13-8 MWC), who sit third in the conference standings, close their MWC schedule this weekend with a three-game series at second-place Air Force (23-22, 14-7). Game 1 is set for 2 p.m. Friday in Colorado Springs.

One win this weekend would punch WSU's ticket to the six-team MWC tournament, which begins May 21 at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona. But the Cougs can make a run at the conference title if they play well in Colorado and if MWC leader San Diego State (30-19, 13-5) collapses in its final two series.

Left-hander Nick Lewis (7-2) will start Game 1 for WSU. The Cougs' ace is the reigning MWC Pitcher of the Week, and leads the league with a 3.50 ERA.

Players to watch in the Cougars' lineup include senior first baseman Ryan Skjonsby, who is batting .323 and leads the team with eight homers and 44 RBIs; freshman outfielder Matt Priest, who paces WSU with a .370 average; senior outfielder Max Hartman, who is batting .312 with a program record eight triples; senior second baseman Gavin Roy, who is hitting .345; and freshman outfielder Trevor Smith, who is batting .302 with 11 doubles and three triples.

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This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 11:44 PM.