The Washington Huskies men’s baseball team will travel to Los Angeles to play a three-game series against No. 13 University of Southern California, beginning Friday, March 19. The games mark the continuation of Big Ten conference play for the Huskies, who have recently shown strong form.
This matchup is significant as Washington seeks its third consecutive Big Ten series win after recent victories over Ohio State and Indiana. The Huskies currently rank fifth in the conference and have won eight of their last ten games, reflecting an upward trend in performance.
Key players have contributed to the team’s success. Jackson Hotchkiss has hit four home runs this season and is on an eight-game hitting streak despite only eight starts. Braeden Terry leads with 22 hits and recently added his second home run of the year. Daniel Porras was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week after batting .353 over a four-game stretch and delivering a walk-off single against Ohio State.
Pitching has also been a strength for Washington, with Noah Kenney earning a spot on the College Baseball Foundation’s Pitcher of the Year watch list. Over the last ten games, Husky pitchers have maintained a combined earned run average (ERA) of 3.10 while striking out 108 batters.
The team features several new faces this season, including four new staff members: Kade Kryzsko as assistant coach, Justin Jacobs as recruiting coordinator, Scott Junck as director of baseball operations, and Jake Rook as director of baseball analytics. Head Coach Eddie Smith is in his second season leading the program after joining from Utah Valley in July 2024.
Looking ahead, Washington aims to continue its positive momentum during this weekend’s series at USC before returning to further Big Ten competition.
