NCAA Starkville Super Regional: MSU Quotes (June 13, 2021)

NCAA Starkville Super Regional
Postgame Press Conference – Game 2
Mississippi State
June 13, 2021

Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Lemonis

Q: What were you seeing from Christian MacLeod and how did you think he performed?
CL: "I know it sounds crazy, I thought he was pretty good, and his stuff was as good as he's had all year. We made two errors that cost us about three runs early, and then the guy sat on the breaker and hit it out, that's really what it came down to. If you had to fault him, I guess you fault the HBP and the walks, but he was pretty good. They've been hot, and they weren't putting a lot of good swings on him until the homeruns. I ran him back out there, usually I take him out, but I just thought the stuff was good, and they were having a tough time squaring him up."

Q: How big of a difference did the errors make in this ballgame?
CL: "That was a big part of the game, obviously them getting a couple there. The one in the first was funky; a funky ball that hits, and we don't make the play off the bunt. We're going to have to be better defensively tomorrow and make everything they get earned, that's the toughest part. I'm sure they'll say that about game one when they played us. In these pressured environments, you've got to make plays."

Q: Do you know who you will pitch tomorrow?
CL: "No, I'll meet with the coaches, we'll sit and do a little more scouting and then try to figure it out. But we pretty much have our bullpen available, and their guy gave them a good start tonight, so they'll have a good bit of theirs too."

Q: What was it about Aidan Tyrell that made them so good tonight?
CL: "We couldn't stay off the ball down. You've got to give him credit, we just continued to chase down. In most of his starts, he doesn't get a ton of strikeouts, but we just could not stay off that low pitch tonight. He did a really good job of mixing in pitching and had good stuff. His velocity was a little more than we saw coming in too, so I'm sure he's a little juiced up, but he was really good."

Q: How are your younger players managing the expectations of this moment?
CL: "I think they are fine. I think we just got out-played. I loved the way our guys went about their business tonight. Obviously, we don't want to make errors, but we had some really good at-bats too, and they just made plays. Cade Smith went out there late and pitched well. Like I said, it's baseball. You scratch it and get ready to go the next day, and our kids will be ready. They've played in this environment all year, and we've been in this 'Sunday game for the series' a lot this year and our kids have always responded. I'm looking forward to seeing them play tomorrow."

Q: How much comfort does it give you that your lead players have seen adversity before?
CL: "As great as the careers have been, it's not always easy. When you play in the SEC, when you play here, you play so many great teams that you have to be able to bounce back. One of our greatest qualities is that we bounce back. We've bounced back from a lot of things this year. Those two guys [Rowdey Jordan and Tanner Allen] and all the other seniors that have been around, they're a big part of that and a big reason for it. We'll erase it from our memory and be able to go out and play good baseball. We've been playing good lately, so it'll be a good day tomorrow."

Q: What is it about this Notre Dame offense that makes it so tough?
CL: "They're good, they're well-coached, and they're hot. They're hot at the right time of the season, which most teams getting to the postseason are hot. They're just a combination of all three and they have a good plan. They've hit some balls in big spots. We've just got to pitch a little better, make a couple more plays, and then we've got to match them. Yesterday we matched them offensively; we've got to do that again tomorrow."

Tanner Allen | Right Fielder

Q: What is your message to the team to flush this game and get ready for tomorrow?
TA: "You said it the best way I can say it – we have to flush it, man. They can swing the bat, and they showed that tonight. Tonight is over with, I'm not worried about it. We're already looking forward to tomorrow."

Q: What have your learned over the course of your career that can prepare you and your teammates for tomorrow's game?
TA: "I just kept telling them, no matter what happens tomorrow, we have to keep playing. No matter what happened earlier in the game or late in the game, we just have to keep playing; play with each other and play for each other. We need to keep the great crowd that we're going to have tomorrow. We had a great one tonight, and I know there will be a great one tomorrow. Just keep them in the game as well."

Q: What do you think happened offensively that caused the team to sputter after the hot start?
TA: "I think [Aidan] Tyrell had a great night. He's a heck of a pitcher. He mixes really well. For us left-handers, he kept us off balance with his slider and then he'd throw the fastball where you weren't expecting it. He had a great night, man. I tip my hat to him, but like I said, we're moving on. We're already looking forward to tomorrow."

Q: How much of what Aidan Tyrell was throwing tonight had you guys seen before on film?
TA: "I think we had the scouting report nailed. Obviously, his velocity was up because of the big crowd, and his adrenaline was pumping. I think we had a great start coming out of the gate and a great game plan, but he's just a great competitor. He really just shut us down all day long. We can't change anything about that now, so all we can do is look forward to tomorrow."

Q: How do you feel about tomorrow being your last game at Duty Noble Field?
TA: "I just want to go out on a positive note. Everything else can go on the back burner, to be honest with you. All I care about a win. It's going to be a fun night tomorrow."

Q: How big of an effect did the team's early mistakes have on the rest of the game?
TA: "That's baseball, man. Plain and simple. That's baseball. We're going to make mistakes. This game is very hard to play. When you make mistakes, you just have to move forward and keep playing. We hit the ball hard, all over the field tonight. Don't let anybody tell you that [Notre Dame] completely dominated us. We hit a lot of hard balls; it just didn't fall our way tonight. That's baseball."

Mississippi State University Athletics