PULLMAN, WA- The 7-4 WSU baseball team has found early success but has also faced some challenges. First-year head coach Nathan Choate says that if they play their style of baseball, they can compete with anyone in the country.

"The guys are playing the game of baseball the right way. Baseball is a very difficult sport, with a lot of failure built into it. I've been proud of the effort they've had and the way that they're playing," Choate said.

The team kicked off the season winning the Karbach Round Rock Classic. they beat out both Kansas and Kentucky.

"It just shows that it's us versus us out there competing. Obviously, give your opponents some credit, but at the end of the day if we play our best we can win," said senior catcher Jacob Morrow.

Their team dynamic has helped them succeed on the field. WSU leads the Pac-12 in hits, triples, and fielding percentage.

"I think it's a close-knit group, they're pretty tight. I think that'll help serve us well when we hit a little bit of adversity. As far as on the field, I've been really pleased with our defense, especially our infield defense but our defense as a whole," Choate said.

"A big thing for us offensively is fighting with two strikes. we've been pretty good at that so far this season. It's really just bearing down, fighting through each pitch and each inning," Morrow said.

WSU doesn't shy away from the doubters. They were picked to finish last in the Pac-12 preseason poll.

"When somebody says that you' 're the eleventh-place team in a conference, that should motivate you to prove them wrong. I do think there's a little bit of a chip on our shoulder," Choate said.

"One of the things I really like about this group is it's super competitive."

Their competitive spirit will translate into Pac-12 play. They're set to face the Utah utes for a three-game weekend series.

"At least for me and a lot of the guys, it's really our last year and in the Pac-12, so I just want to have fun, compete, and enjoy every single bit of it because it's a short period of time," Morrow said.

The series kicks off this Friday at Bailey Brayton Field. The first pitch is set for 4:05 p.m.