A matchup versus the No. 1 team in the country is not only an opportunity to compete against the best in the land, it’s also an opportunity to make a statement.

The WSU baseball team will have that opportunity this weekend as the No 1. Arizona State Sun Devils (27-1) come to Pullman for a three-game series this weekend.

Coming into the game losing three of four games, the Cougars will have a chance to put some much needed momentum back in their sails to push toward the top half of the Pac-10 standings.

The Cougars will need consistent and quality pitching from their entire staff to slow down the potent and deep Sun Devil offensive attack.

Infielder Zack MacPhee has been a star in the Pac-10, leading ASU and the conference in several hitting categories.

The 5-foot-8 sophomore leads the team with a .429 batting average, while leading the conference with 36 RBIs, 10 triples and a .755 slugging percentage. MacPhee is also in the top five in hits, run scored and on-base percentage.

As a team, the Sun Devils have a impressive .451 on base percentage, and they have outscored their opponents 255-94 on the season.

Cougar starting pitchers Chad Arnold, Spencer Jackson and Travis Cook will all be depended on to limit the offensive chances by ASU.

Arnold and Jackson are a combined 6-2 in 12 starts and have given the Cougars strong performances in every appearance.

WSU’s staff has been able to limit base runners this season, holding opponents to a respectable .346 on base percentage.

However, Arizona State will be a much tougher test as the Sun Devils can get runners on and move them around. They have posted 152 walks and hit .349 batting as a team.

It will be important for the Cougars to post some runs in the early innings to keep the Sun Devil pitching staff back on their heels.

The Cougars are hitting .300 as a team and have shown tremendous offensive balance, with eight different players having at least 10 RBIs.

The Sun Devils have only given up 79 walks in 250 innings pitched, making it key for the Cougars to be patient at the plate and get some base runners.

However, with 267 total strikeouts on the season, ASU will attack the strike zone.

Opponents have only hit .225 against ASU pitching this season. As a staff, the Sun Devils have a 2.69 ERA and have given up 206 total hits. Sun Devil pitchers Mitchell Lambson and Brady Rogers are one and two, respectively, in the Pac-10 in ERA.

Lambson is 3-0 with three saves in 30 innings pitched, while Rogers is 2-1 with a 1.76 ERA. Starting pitchers Seth Blair, Jake Borup and Merrill Kelly are a combined 17-0 in 21 starts.

The recent unpredictable weather on the Palouse may put this weekend’s games on hold. However, the cold could provide the Cougars with a home-field advantage over their desert opponents.

First pitch will be at 5:30 p.m. Friday evening. The series will continue at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon and culminate at noon on Sunday.