NCAA Starkville Regional: MSU Quotes (June 5, 2021)

NCAA Starkville Regional
Postgame Press Conference - Game 4
Mississippi State
June 5, 2021

Chris Lemonis | Head Coach

Q: How would you assess where you are right now, pitching wise?
CL: We're in a good spot. I thought both guys [Christian MacLeod and Will Bednar] were really good. Not their perfect starts, there was a ball hit here or there, but once Christian [MacLeod] settled in there in the second or the third, he took off. After that, I thought the middle part of the game he was phenomenal. We ran him back out there in the sixth, and he was still really good. His stuff was good. He probably lost a little bit of command. They put a couple swings on him, but I like the way he competed tonight. That was the biggest thing. I thought the same thing about Will. This is an offensive regional. There are some really good hitters here, and they've both done a great job. I thought Brandon [Smith] and Parker [Stinnett] were really good there at the end just pounding the zone."

Q: What are those conversations like with you and Coach Foxhall in the dugout about the pitchers?
CL: There's no conversation, Fox just takes off like a rabbit. Fox has full reign. So, he makes those decisions. As the head coach, that's what I want. I told him even today he's been hot with all the calls. I said, 'Get out there and do whatever you want to do.'"

"We talk about pitching changes or getting a guy hot or not. I don't know if we've had a conversation all year long. If you see me go out there, it's usually about defense. Fox is the 'pitcher whisperer' I guess you could say. He's a lot calmer than I am."

Q: How important was that sixth inning for you for this game and going forward?
CL: Well, the ability to expand the game in the postseason is huge. We had an opportunity the inning before, and we didn't. Then, we went out there and responded to their inning because it let us rest Landon Sims another night. It gives us him for tomorrow and run him out there in a win situation. That was the big piece of it. Parker [Stinnett] hadn't pitched in a couple weeks. He's been working just like everyone's been working, but he was really good tonight. That type of velo [velocity] this time of year, he can be a weapon for us."

Q: What is Rowdey Jordan giving you at the top of the order for your offense?
CL: He's also been a great base runner. He had two big base running plays in last night's game and went first-to-third tonight. He's one of the best players in this part of the country – the whole country, and he does play well this time of year. I'm glad he's on our team. He's been hot. He's had some big swings, and he's making us go right now. He's been really good. Hopefully, he stays hot.

Q: How much power does that lineup have like they did tonight?
CL: I like the lineup when you have the twin towers [Brad Cumbest and Kellum Clark] there at the back. You've got two guys that have a chance to do some damage, and they've done that in the past two games. Brad has been really good, not real tough on the HBPs, I feel like he's not going to make it to first both times. His swings have been good, I know he was happy to get hit 0-2 in that one at-bat tonight. He's a good defender, he's a good base runner. He really moves, and Kellum [Clark] does too."

"For two guys that size, they move and run around. They put pressure on the defense so they can be a weapon for us at the back."

Q: What has your lineup shown these past couple of days that has gotten your attention?
CL: It's been a little bit more patient. We talk a lot this time of year that it's easy to get big. In the [fifth] inning, we didn't have success with the bases loaded. You saw us get a little too big and do a little too much. [Jake] Gautreau's great, he has those guys locked in. Scouting report, early work, all those types of things our guys do. They're pretty locked in, and they're trying to hit balls hard. You've seen that the last two days. There's been so many great swings and swings in RBI situations. It was just good at-bat after good at-bat to keep us moving."

Q: Have you decided on your starter? Who in your mind are the candidates?
CL: No, we're going to take a look and watch tomorrow's game. Then, go from there. It's kind of like a midweek game for us. We're better when we just pitch a lot of different guys. So, I'll talk to Fox [Scott Foxhall], and we'll check it out.

Q: If you were told before the Regional started that you'd be two games into the winner's bracket and haven't used Landon Sims, what would your thoughts be about where you stand?
CL: I'd feel great having Landon [Sims] in our back pocket. We were close to going to him tonight. He can throw for three or four innings at a time. Having him ready for a win, we'll have him tomorrow. He hasn't even cranked up yet, he's just played catch."

"Being 2-0 and being in this bracket is huge. Like I told the guys, there's still work to be done. We didn't come to win two. There's going to be a team that plays a great game tomorrow that will be waiting for us in the winner's bracket. We're going to have to play good baseball, these teams are all good. We're going to have to match whoever comes out of that game tomorrow."

Christian MacLeod | P

Q: Was there an issue with your hands early on in the game?
CM: "They got a little sweaty after the bullpen. It's just really humid outside, I couldn't get a grip. I came in and used the rosin bag a little bit. I was just trying to find a grip early on. After drying my fingers and using the rosin bag, I was fine."

Q: What did Coach Foxhall say to help you find the strike zone?
CM: "Obviously, throwing nine straight balls is not how you want to start an inning. I knew I needed to settle down and bear down. Minimize as much as possible and attack the strike zone. I should have done that to start the inning. I made the correction I needed to."

Q: How would you assess your performance?
CM: "I thought it was a good outing. I didn't have my best stuff compared to some other outings. I competed as much as I could have. I left it all out on the field. I hated [giving up] the home run to finish the outing, but that is just part of it. I competed my butt off, there's not much more I could do."

Q: How did you feel going into the sixth inning?
CM: "I felt great. Even when I came out of the game, I still felt great. I hit my second wind going into the sixth inning. Even at 96 pitches going in, I still felt strong."

Q: What gave way in the sixth inning for you?
CM: "I struggled a little bit with my changeup tonight. I was cutting it more than I needed to. It was running into the right-handed batters rather than running away from them. That is something I will work on in my bullpen this week."

Q: What has Kamren James been like in the locker room?
CM: "He's been great. In baseball, there will be some slumps. We're one of the more mentally tough teams in the nation. We're not going to let a slump, or something get the best of us. We're going to come and work our butts off each day, that's all we can do. Kam is a really great player, and I'm excited to see what he can do."

Q: How much confidence does the offense having a big inning give you?
CM: "They were awesome all night. When we get hits, The Dude starts going crazy. You can't beat it, especially when there is an opposing team coming in and experiencing that. We're lucky to have such a great fan base and having the offense do what they did was special."

Q: How did you feel during that tough situation in the third inning with the middle of the lineup?
CM: "You've to know who's coming up in the order. You've to know their strengths and weaknesses. As a pitcher, you have a knowledge of the game with who is coming up. It helped me focus a little bit more. My mentality the whole time was 'Don't let these runs score. Compete, throw strikes and let the defense play'."

Q: How was your first regionals experience?
CM: "It was awesome. When I was stretching, I saw everybody racing to the berms. It's special having this atmosphere. I'm excited to go out and play in front of another good crowd tomorrow."

Kamren James | 3B

Q: Obviously, you were seeing the baseball well tonight. Take me through your evening, it seemed like you had big hit after big hit after big hit tonight.
KJ: "Yeah, it's been a rough stretch here the past few weeks. Me and [Assistant Coach Jake] Gautreau have been working a lot and trying to get better. Just take it day-by-day and stay confident in the box. I feel like [at] the [SEC] Tournament in Alabama, I was putting good swings on the ball. I felt good this week in practice. Being able to come out and execute today felt really well."

Q: It's rare for a guy to move back to the three-hole and get out of a slump, but all of a sudden that's what happens. Are you more comfortable in that spot?
KJ: "I'm not real sure. I think I'm comfortable in the three and the five hole. We switched, me and Logan [Tanner]. I think wherever I'm put in the lineup, just try to do my job whether that's get a run in or a ground ball to second or if I'm looking to get a homer. Wherever he puts me in the lineup, just try to produce the best I can."

Q: How much can it open up your offense when the top of the order is producing the way they did tonight?
KJ: "When your first three guys are going like we did tonight, it just frees up the whole lineup really the whole game. Whether its defense, pitching or when you get runs on the board especially when the back end of the lineup is producing like they were tonight, it's huge. When we get the whole lineup going, it's going to be dangerous."

Q: Do you think your offense is trending in the right direction?
KJ: "Absolutely. We go to practice every day and getting ready to work. I think we've got the best hitting coach in the country. We come out every day putting good swings on balls, getting better. Then, tonight it shows that it pays off. We've been having good at-bats, and we had good at-bats yesterday afternoon. I think just like you said, we're rolling in the right direction at the right time."

Q: What has been the key to your offensive success this season?
KJ: "All my coaches and teammates are behind me in everything I do. I try to stay confident. I'm the same player I was when I make a mistake as I am when I have success. I come to this field the same every single day. I'm a confident player, whether it shows or not. I just try to go out there, do my best and do whatever it takes for the team to win."

Q: What was the offensive approach going into the sixth inning?
KJ: "Well, we knew they weren't going to lay down just because we got six runs. They put some runs on the board and made it a close game again. I think that sixth inning, we just came in with the same approach we always try to have – just do your job and get good pitches to hit. In that inning, I don't think we missed many pitches. We didn't swing at many pitches out of the zone. I think that was the inning Kellum [Clark] and Brad [Cumbest] hit back-to-back [home runs]. I think it was executing our plan and our approach."

Q: Did getting on-base without a base hit last night multiple times help put you in the mindset to free you up to start hitting again after having that success last night?
KJ: "Yeah, for sure. Getting to come out in my first regional game I've ever played. Maybe not do well as far as stats and average and hits, but I felt like I did what the team needed me to do when runners are in scoring position. I got a couple of those in, I felt like I was seeing the ball [and] having good at-bats, and that always keeps the confidence."

Mississippi State University Athletics

NCAA Starkville Regional: MSU Quotes (June 5, 2021)

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Players Mentioned

Will Bednar

Kellum Clark

Brad Cumbest

Kamren James

Rowdey Jordan

Christian MacLeod

Landon Sims

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