Down in Conway, South Carolina, the Eddie Smith era of Washington Husky baseball will begin early Friday. The Huskies are set to start the 2025 NCAA baseball season against the Kansas State Wildcats with a first pitch set for 8:30 a.m. (Pacific Time, that is) as UW takes part in the 2025 edition of the Baseball at the Beach tournament.
This is the start of a brand new chapter for the UW baseball program as Smith (like a few of the other new coaches across the University of Washington athletics department) is looking to build his team of Huskies into a consistent winner.
Right now, it seems plausible that Max Banks, previously a Division III pitcher, will take the mound for the Huskies. At least it seems like that’s what Kansas State is expecting as the Wildcats list Banks on the UW part of the “probable starting rotation” section in their game notes ahead of the Baseball at the Beach tournament.
Washington Huskies baseball team opens 2025 NCAA baseball season by facing Kansas State Wildcats in Conway, South Carolina
Should Banks actually end up on the mound to start this game (there’s really no reason to believe this won’t be the case), the senior right-handed pitcher will have earned his first start in purple and gold. And it’ll be interesting to see how he performs. While at Chapman University, Banks managed to record a 3.00 ERA last season.
Granted, the level of competition is going to be a bit tougher than what he faced at Chapman, but still, he has some encouraging numbers.
And according to K-State’s game notes, it looks like Ty Ruhl will be making the start on the mound for the Wildcats. Which, it will admittedly be pretty interesting to see how he performs as much of his college career has been negatively impacted by some injury issues.
After the season opener against the Wildcats, Washington will continue tournament play in South Carolina as the Huskies take on Saint Joseph’s on Saturday at 8 a.m. PT.