March 22, 2009

Box Score

Head Coach Steve Smith

On the game:
"We were outmatched on the mound today. (Chad Bettis) was really good. Craig (Fritsch) kept us in it for three innings then he totally lost it. From that point on we were really just trying to stay out of big innings the best we could. We are running guys out there that honestly are not ready to pitch in these situations, especially in days like today with the wind blowing out."

On the Baylor pitching:
"Shawn (Tolleson's) injury is an issue and Craig Fritsch only being able to go three innings is obviously a big issue. If (Chad Bettis) goes out and coughs it up after three innings, the game could be the other way around. (Baseball) is about the guy who starts (the game). Their guy was very dominating and very much in control of the game the whole time he was out there."

On the offensive production throughout the weekend:
"I think offensively we are getting some pretty good at-bats. The young guys (are really hitting well). The game is on the mound and we have to be able to control the game somewhat on the mound and stay out of those big innings. We have to get it out of our talented players. The offense was competitive the whole weekend. Today I think we competed really well against a good arm. If (Chad Bettis) throws that way for the rest of the year against the (Big 12), he is going to put up some good numbers."

SS Shaver Hansen

On failing to get the sweep:
"You always come out on Sunday's looking to get that third win (of a series). Playing in the Big 12 conference you want to try and take advantage of games in which you can get sweeps. (Series sweeps) don't occur too often in the Big 12."

On Chad Bettis:
"He has a live arm and I think he threw the hardest out of all the starters this weekend. He had a cutter, a fastball and a pretty good changeup. All the pitchers in the Big 12 are good. We didn't have our `A' game hitting today and we had quite a few strikeouts. We made it close at the end but they out hit us today and they were the better team today."

On the difference in the game:
"They had quite a few hitbatsmen and some walks that kind of got their rally started. When they are up in the count they get a chance to swing for the fence. That is what they did and they took advantage of it."

DH Aaron Miller

On failing to clinch the sweep:
"With the way this league is going to be this year it is such a big game if you can sweep a series. On the positive we won the series. We fought against (Chad Bettis) today so that was good. We just have to tighten it up in the field a little bit. We booted some balls and made some routine plays look hard so we just have to tighten it up."

On the Baylor pitching:
"I think with Shawn (Tolleson) it is all precautionary. We want Shawn for the long road. It is more precautionary and we are trying to fit it together finding out which roles guys are best in and where guys need to be in order to be successful. For us to be able to still be (figuring out roles) and winning some games, that is pretty good. As soon as we get comfortable with our roles I think we will start to turn it around on the mound."