April 18, 2009

Recap | Box Score

Coach Steve Smith

On Aaron Miller's pitching performance

"Aaron is throwing so many strikes it is almost working to his detriment sometimes. He gave up a two-strike base hit to lead off the game and I believe that guy eventually scored. Then they got a ground ball through the right side with two strikes, but he threw the ball really well. He hasn't walked a guy in quite a while, which is really something."

On Miller's hitting performance

"Somebody in the National League ought to like having a guy like that. That has that good arm from the left side and gives you a chance when he has got to swing the bat, because that is what he is. He has got a power arm and a power bat. Power is one of the tools that is hardest to find. He has really got a little of both from the mound and at the plate."

On not being able to get runners home

"During the game we played different approaches. We had first and second nobody out to start the game and chose to let Shaver (Hansen) swing away. We didn't move runners at all there. We had one other opportunity with a runner at second and nobody out and we didn't move them then either. The little things in a one run game are pretty significant when you look back."

On bouncing back for tomorrow's game

"We just have to pitch. There momentum right now or our momentum if we had it yesterday is only as good as our starting pitcher tomorrow. I like the way Willie (Kempf) has been throwing. I think we have pitched them well here. We came in here knowing those guys over there have backs against the wall. They will definitely come out here ready to play and I know that (OSU starting pitcher Andrew) Oliver tomorrow will feel a lot of responsibility to go to the mound and have a great outing. We will need to be ready to swing the bat."