After three weekends of Pac-10 play, the WSU baseball team finds itself in make-or-break territory this weekend as they host perennial regional power, the Beavers from Oregon State University.

Both teams are 3-6 and tied for seventh place in the league after getting swept in their respective series last weekend. The Cougars dropped three in Tucson while visiting the Arizona Wildcats, and the Beavers were swept at home by the Stanford Cardinal.

After the sweep to the Cardinal, the Beavers have now lost five straight dating back to the previous weekend against UCLA. Both teams have postseason aspirations and know the importance of this weekend series in late April.

“It has become very important,” Head Coach Donnie Marbut said. “You get to week four into the Pac-10 season, (and) records start to develop a little bit. Each team is going to try to separate themselves a little bit.” The Cougars will look for more consistent pitching from both starters and the bullpen after the overall staff had trouble keeping the bases empty and runners from crossing the plate. Cougar ace Chad Arnold will get the start Friday night against Oregon State’s Greg Peavey.

It should be a top-notch pitching duel, as Arnold comes in with a 3.34 ERA and 44 strikeouts. Peavey is 3-0 on the year with a 2.36 ERA and 47 strikeouts. The Cougars will turn to David Stilley on Saturday and will determine throughout the weekend who will start on Sunday.

Fans should expect either sophomore Spencer Jackson or freshman Travis Cook to start on the mound.

Cougar pitchers will have to be careful when pitching to Oregon State’s Stefen Romero. The junior infielder has driven in 29 RBIs and eight home runs. Both stats lead the Beavers.

Oregon State’s Parker Berberet has driven in 27 RBIs, while Rob Folsom has driven in 24.

The Beavers are hitting .260 and have outscored their opponents 202 to 130.

The Cougar offense will also be tested as the Beavers boast solid pitching. Ryan Gorton and Matt Boyd anchor the Beaver bullpen, with Boyd posting a 4-1 record and a 1.99 ERA in 31.2 innings pitched. Gorton is 3-1 with a 1.33 ERA and has only given up three earned runs in 20.1 innings pitched.

The Cougars have three players hitting more than .300, and four different players have driven in at least 20 runs.

However, it will take a team-wide effort at the plate for the Cougars to be successful.

“We just got to focus a little more on our execution,” Fanelli said. “We had a lot of opportunities (last weekend) in all three games to score runners with less than two outs at third base. We need to capitalize this weekend when we have the chances.” Saturdays game will be televised on FSN throughout the region.

Friday’s first pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. with the series continuing on Saturday at 2 p.m. The series will conclude Sunday at noon.