April 14, 2007

Recap | Box Score

BAYLOR HEAD COACH Steve Smith

On Jeff Mandel's performance:

"Jeff was very good. He didn't give up a hit for three innings. He hit a guy to lead off the fourth and then gave up his first hit, but he got out of it. We kind of misplayed a ball in the outfield behind him (in the fifth), but other than that he was really good. When they got something going an inning or two later, he got two big strikeouts and a fly ball to get out of that inning. He showed a lot getting through the seventh inning. At that point in the game, he's living on the edge a little bit. He's up in his pitch count, and we're over there trying to decide how to play it -- who to go with and whether or not to take him out. But Jeff finished the game very strong, and I was happy to see it."

On William Draper's performance:

"I was proud of Draper. I thought his performance was the most important thing that happened. He goes 3-0 on their leadoff hitter and comes back to get that guy out. If he walks that guy, we probably have to go get him and bring in (Nick) Cassavechia right there. But he gets a ground ball and a couple strikeouts. We were able to expand the lead in the eighth and that makes it a little bit different ball game."

On bats breaking through in the ninth:

"It just kind of happened. Sometimes I think we're a better club when we're not having to hit with runners on third base -- trying too hard in those situations that on paper are so much easier to score. But that's a young club and guys that are trying really hard and sometimes too hard."

On getting a Big 12 road win:

"One win does not a series make, but it is a good win. It was a very well-played game. Kansas made some plays in the outfield earlier in the game or it could have been blown open much earlier. Our guys know how important this series is. We're down in the bottom of the league with a chance to play our way up. And that's exactly what Kansas is trying to do. They've already played Texas and Oklahoma State, but they were able to do something in those series we weren't able to do and that's win a couple games. Where we're going to be able to make up ground on Kansas and separate ourselves a little bit is head-to-head, so this series is pretty important."

SENIOR RHP Jeff Mandel

On getting the series started with a win:

"We really wanted to get that road monkey off our back. It was nice to go out there and get hits like we did today. Our guys didn't give up. We didn't get it done early in the game, but we kept at it."

On finally being able to play after weather delays:

"We played early last week, so we've been waiting for this series for a while. Then we get here and it's sleeting and snowing. It was discouraging, but we had a goal to come up here and win this series. We have to get back on track. As discouraging as it was (to wait), it made us more prepared."