March 31, 2012

Box Score

Baylor Head Coach Steve Smith

Opening statement:

"I thought both guys pitched extremely well. I think for both teams offensively it was such a contrast from last night. We're throwing a right-hander that's on the side, sinking it lot, and they're throwing a left-hander who's not anything like the left-hander they threw last night. He's got a really good change and he knows how to pitch. I think both of them did extremely well. I thought Trent was as good as I've seen him this year, which coming of that last one, is really good to see. He bounced back from last weekend really well."

On Josh Bremer coming into the game late:

"Well obviously it wasn't the plan for him to even pitch, but we really don't have anybody that's put a lock down on the ninth inning. Different guys have done it. Dillon was our first option today, and he got us through the eighth inning in pretty good shape. I didn't think he had great stuff. His fastball was not as lively as it normally is. The base hit that he gave up, although not a bad pitch necessarily, is a pitch that if he's on, that pitch won't get hit. I was hoping to get the Bremer we got Tuesday in Houston. We didn't, but we got enough."

On the play of the offense today:

"We didn't execute well. This wasn't a great ballgame for Nate Orf today. He's been one of our most consistent guys, playing the game and executing. I really like their third baseman. He's a great player. That's as good of a play as you'll ever see, with that unassisted double play with the tag and throw to first. It got them out of that inning. The inning before, Cal got on first base, had a missed sign and we lost that opportunity. There were some mistakes today that kept this game a little closer than it should have been."

Baylor Pitcher Tyler Bremer

On coming in to pitch in the ninth and getting a double play:

"Coaches told me at the start of the inning to get hot no matter what happened. The lefty was up, and I wanted to be careful with him, because there was a runner on second base with first base open. That set up the double play, and with the defense we're playing right now, all I wanted was a ground ball."

On starting the last batter off with a curve ball:

"I actually crossed Ludy up. He called a fastball and I threw a curve ball, but I think it did set him up. He's coming off the bench. He hasn't played or swung a bat, so if I could start him off with a curve ball, I'm sure it made my fastball look a lot harder than it was. I think it definitely complimented with the ground ball."

Baylor Pitcher Trent Blank

On another strong outing:

"I felt great today. We had talked about how I needed to hydrate with this heat. The defense keeping me in the game and us getting a lead is a combination of things our team does that helped me get through it."

On bouncing back from last start with a good outing:

"That's baseball. It's an evolution. Everything is different with so many variables. To come out here, throw like that, and keep the winning streak going, just builds confidence."