It was a heck of a Friday night of SEC baseball for Mississippi State.
As the clouds parted and rain moved out of the area, the Diamond Dawg bats brought the thunder in a 13-3 win in just seven innings over Alabama. Four home runs, two from Hunter Hines, led the way in the shortened ball game as State got the opener of the top 25 series matchup.
After the game, coach Chris Lemonis spoke to the media about the win.
Question: One of the best offensive performances of the year. How would you describe the game?
CL: “That’s a good statement because everybody had big at bats. Obviously Hunter, Amani (Larry) with a great night, but a lot of guys had great at bats. We felt like we had to grind them out and (Jake Gautreau) did a great job preparing them. Their guy is that four to six inning guy and if you can get him out in the fourth of fifth, you’ve got a chance and that’s what happened tonight.”
Q: What did you think of the pitching?
CL: “I thought Khal was great through four (innings). The thing about Khal – and he’ll probably tell me I’m wrong – he’s pitched in so many tight games he’s never been able to sit back in the dugout and take a deep breath. It’s almost like you lose your focus a little bit and they came out and got a couple of hits and got it going.
“Khal-like, he locks back in and finishes out the inning and I think that’s huge. You could let that inning blow up and the next thing you know we’re still playing two more innings and we’re dog fighting and putting your best bullpen guys out there. He’s just a tough kid – he got it back under him. I thought Gavin was great. He hasn’t been out there in a while and he has good stuff so it was good to see him back out there.”
Q: Amani has been going through a slump, what was it like to see him have a good night?
CL: “Great kid. Not one time has he put his head down or acted like a wimp. He actually works too hard. He lives and dies with the game and he’s such a great player. We’ve all seen it, but it’s been a little funky for him for a few weeks.”
Q: What have you seen from Dakota Jordan this week?
CL: “I thought he was great Wednesday night. Even tonight, he had the big walk and was really good tonight, too. He’s just slowed it down a little bit. He’s just trying to do too much usually and what’s funny is he has to do less than anybody else because usually if he just touches it it goes a mile. I thought he’s seen it well this week.”
Q: How much has it helped too that Hunter is playing well?
CL: “We’re really hard to beat when Hunter Hines plays like that and those guys start kicking in. You look at the big games Hunter’s had this year, when he hits like that we win. The Vanderbilts, the A&Ms, the LSUs. He shows you how talented he is. The last two years, that’s pretty much what he’s been.
“It’s fun because he has a smile on his face. It’s fun to see him back to his normal self a little bit.”
Q: What kind of confidence does the defense have?
CL: “They don’t even talk about it because it’s expected. I expect them to make every play now. They’ve just been very steady, very consistent. I’ve talked about it a lot, it’s the standard.”
Q: All of Hunter’s home runs the last week have been off of left handed pitchers. Is there anything different he’s doing?
CL: “He didn’t hit lefties all year, but the first two years his power came off of lefties more than anybody. It’s been a little strange for us and now he’s starting to do what he’s done in the past. I just think he’s in a really good spot with his swing right now and seeing the ball.”
Q: How comfortable are you with Bryce Chance at leadoff?
CL: “That’s been a big question in our office lately. The best thing about Bryce is he doesn’t strike out because he doesn’t swing and miss. Sometimes that’s not good for your leadoff because if he gets a slider on 1-0, he’s putting that in play. We’ve debated it, but like I’ve told Gaut, when you’ve got a lineup that’s working and you’re winning, I have a hard time going away from it.
“Some people constantly change it. Y’all have been here long enough, I don’t change it too often. I feel like if guys get comfortable and we’re playing good baseball, guys will pick each other up.”
Q: How well do you feel like Ethan Pulliam has taken advantage of his opportunity?
CL: “He made a great play tonight for Gavin. He’s doing great. He’s a good player. He’s a freshman (but) he doesn’t play like a freshman. He’s very mature, the moments don’t bother him and he’s a really hard-working kid. He just comes prepared every day ready to go and he’s just in the moment.
“That’s the hardest part about freshmen is they get a little sped up, they want to do too much, they want to stay in the lineup. He hasn’t shown any of that, he’s just stayed out there competing.
“In the fall, in spring training, he just put together good at bats and he needed an opportunity. I had a freshman per week almost getting those bats in SEC play and I feel like he deserved that opportunity and he took that and ran with it.”
Q: What went into the decision to go to Jurrangelo on Saturday again?
CL: “You’re going to have to do it this week or next because the Thursday, Friday, Saturday is coming. The conference tournament is coming. You kind of have to put him in a spot. You’re thinking Regionals or whatever and you don’t him sitting on that backside because it’s really hard to move him up then. We felt like we had to do it this week or the next.
“Being at home, we felt like it was better to move him up. He’ll be ok. He’s a vibrant kid.”
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