March 8, 2009
Recap | Box Score
Head Coach Steve Smith
On the Baylor Offense:
"We got so far behind that we were taking pitches, trying to draw walks and get some guys on to run (Beau Pender's) pitch count up so we could get to the next guy. (Pender) did a very good job. It is not like our guys weren't trying. He was very good. Good pitching can do that to good hitting sometimes. When we got to the bullpen we took some good swings. Obviously Aaron (Miller) got the first pitch that he saw out of a new pitcher which is pretty unusual. Most of the time a hitter is going to need to see one pitch but he got a mistake and Aaron has a lot of pop so when he gets one up in the air he has a chance."
On Brooks Pinckard:
"He is just a competitor and it doesn't matter where you put a competitor because he has ability too. (Pinckard) is a guy that is the fastest guy out here and he can go out and throw the ball 94mph. He is very gifted athletically but that is not all that there is. He is just a really good competitor. He is the perfect type of guy that can do what he just did. (Moving from center to pitcher) is no big deal to him, which is exactly what he wanted to do. I would have been really surprised if he hadn't been able to finish the game because he is such a great athlete and he has a big heart to go along with it."
On preparing for Big 12 play and Shawn Tolleson:
"I think the guys have played hard all of the time. They are very motivated and driven. For the most part they have played well. My only concern right now would be Shawn Tolleson and his health. He threw really well last time out but we had to skip him this weekend. We are not so good that we can afford to lose a weekend starter right here at the front of conference. Hopefully the next few days will be good for him."
Senior Outfielder Adam Hornung
On driving in the game-winning run:
"Going up there in a tie game with a runner on first and two outs, I was just trying to drive a ball in the gap and try to score that runner from first. We knew that we needed to add on to that big inning and add a few more runs to win the game. Our bullpen came in and did a good job after that."
On the resiliency of the team after trailing 7-0:
"I think the team that we had last year would have probably taken an 8-1 or an 8-2 to loss then gone home. This team fought back and put up a big inning in the 7th and found a way to win."
On the importance of getting a win heading into conference play:
"It is a lot better to win that game then to lose that game. We have a big week ahead of us playing both Texas and Texas A&M. Every week in the Big 12 is going to be tough so it was a good win to get us ready for that."
On Aaron Miller's Grand Slam:
"Coach (Smith) told him to go up there and look for a good pitch to hit. I thought he hit a fastball but he said that he didn't know what he hit. I am glad that it went out and tied the game. It was definitely a big boost for us."
Junior Outfielder Aaron Miller
On the Grand Slam:
"It was a changeup. It was kind of weird because we were trying to spit on (Pender) who had a really good changeup and he was really on his game today. I guess I just reacted and got a good piece of it."
On swinging at the first pitch to hit the grand slam:
"I just did it the unconventional way. I was just trying to go up there and get the next guy up to the plate. Our whole theme that inning was to just get the next guy up to the plate to chip away and score more runs. I just got a pitch up in the air and did what I did."
On the importance of getting to the UAB bullpen:
"We knew we just had to get to the bullpen. With the way (Pender) was throwing we just had to try to get him to pitch out. Shaver (Hansen) was able to get a pitch up and put some hurt on him. We just had to get to the pen because it was a Sunday game and they had been in two really high-scoring games over the last two days, so we knew there pen was going to be struggling. When we got to the pen we thought we had a chance to get some runs on the board."
On his success in the QTI Baylor Classic:
"I don't know what it is about this tournament. We are playing well for the fans and that is the first thing that we try and do. That was a huge win for us being able to come back and score runs like that. There are not a whole lot of teams that can do that."
On Brooks Pinckard:
"It was huge for us for somebody to be able to do that. It takes a special mindset to do that what he did. When he came in we weren't doing great. For him to be able to come in and shut the door to give us a chance to get back into the game was big. He is just a phenomenal athlete."
Freshman Outfielder/Pitcher Brooks Pinckard:
On coming from behind for the win:
"We have done that quite a bit this year. We have had a few comeback wins this year in which we won in the last inning. Today just shows you the character of this team. We have been fighting hard and we have prepared hard all fall and up to this point. So far we are doing pretty well at it."
On the making the switch from centerfield to pitcher:
"Coach (Smith) told me to go out there and warm up a little bit and a couple of batters later he put me in there. You just have to be ready at anytime in the game, and luckily I came out and was ready to throw today. It is fun going out there. Going out there, enjoying it and having fun; that is what Coach Smith is telling us to do right now and that is what we are doing."
On Aaron Miller's grand slam:
"Right when he hit it I knew it was out. When he was coming around and about to touch home plate you could tell he was pumped. Everyone was pumped and it gave us a little spark. Luckily we came back and won the ballgame."
