March 21, 2009

Recap | Box Score

Head Coach Steve Smith

On Logan Verrett's first start:
"He did a nice job. He weathered the first inning storm a little bit. I think he was probably a little hyped for his first start but he settled in and pitched into the eighth inning in his first collegiate start. I think there were some pitches made that cost him a few outs and he will learn from that. Overall it was a pretty good first time out. Both him and Gregg (Glime) played a good game of catch. Not only did he not walk them, but he didn't bounce it to the backstop or send them around the bases. He gave up some hits but he made some pretty big pitches when they had some runners on base. He did a very nice job."

On Dustin Dickerson:
"It is really good to see the guys that we have all billed as players actually become players. That is one of things that should be getting more obvious as time goes on. These guys improving and there is a difference from being a freshman, sophomore or Junior. Dustin is doing a really nice job at the plate. He approaches his at-bats as a veteran hitter. He has the ability to do what he did tonight and hit the ball out of the park."

On Willie Kempf:
"I was proud of Willie Kempf. Willie has struggled to find himself. He goes in the game today and walked the lead-off guy, but then he came back and struck out the next guy. He settled down and I thought for the first time that he is really starting to relax. I just didn't want to put more (pressure) on him. He did what I asked him to do."

On Brooks Pinckard:
"He is the best guy that we have in that situation (to close a game). The only thing about tonight is that he was throwing on two days of rest after throwing three-plus innings in San Marcos. I don't know enough about him yet to know what he is capable of doing. Brooks is a really phenomenal athlete. He is the fastest guy out here and he can throw the ball 95 mph. Disney ought to do a movie about him."

On the Sunday Starter:
"We are going with (Craig) Fritsch. That was really my best and only really good option. I think he will be fine. It will be a challenge for him with the types of left-handed hitters that they have at the top of the order because most of the guys like to (hit the ball to the opposite field). Most of his fastballs are going to run away from them so it will play into their swings some. He will have to get on top of it and get downhill."

1B Dustin Dickerson

On hitting two homeruns:
"It felt really good. I felt locked on those two pitches. It was definitely a good night for hitting with the American flag blowing straight out. On the first one that I hit I was trying to stay short and then he hung a slider. On the second one I accidently set him up with a hanging changeup and I just made a good swing on them both."

On winning another one-run game:
"I wish we wouldn't do it, but I guess that is the way that we like to do it. Every win counts and I wish we scored more runs. I am glad that we got the (win)."

On the importance of winning the series:
"Every win is important in the Big 12. (The standings) are so close and the teams are both competitive and good. Any time that we can get a win, we are going to try and do that."

On Logan Verrett:
"We have a lot of confidence in him and he does really well. He scattered some hits tonight but only gave up one run. He did really well. When he is on the mound we have a chance to beat anyone."

P Logan Verrett

On his first collegiate start:
"I felt pretty comfortable. I started 16 games last year in high school so I was pretty much back in my element."

On settling in after the first inning:
"I guess the first inning is always going to be like a warm-up inning. That is kind of how I felt coming out there. I wasn't as loose as I was in the later innings. It wasn't really hype; rather it was just me needing to get loose."

On the Tech bats:
"They put some good swings (on my pitches) and I made a few mistakes throwing. They are a good club and they are in the Big 12 for a reason. They are a good hitting club so they are going to put swings on the ball if you leave it out over the plate. I credit them for that."

On pitching late into the game:
"I was a little bit tired. (Throwing) 119 pitches is a lot. I felt like I could have stayed in and gotten a few more outs but I don't blame (Coach Smith) for coming in and taking me out. That is a good move and Willie did a great job when he came into the game and got me out of that jam."

On making the transition from closer to starting pitcher:
"Obviously preparing for it is different. I didn't feel like I was nervous at all going out there. I did feel prepared from last year. The atmosphere is a little bit different in terms of the number of people that are here. I just felt really comfortable out there."

On the importance of winning the series:
"It is huge for us. We are competing for a Big 12 title so every conference game is important. We have to go out there and fight and get a win every conference game. To win the series is huge and if we can sweep the series that will be even bigger. (The sweep) is what we are going for tomorrow. Hopefully we come out with some good intensity tomorrow and come out and play hard for nine innings."