Texas Tech University Athletics
Postgame Quotes
March 24, 2010 | Baseball
March 24, 2010
Recap | Final Stats | Notes
Head Coach Dan Spencer
On today's 10-9 win being harder than it should have been:
"It was harder than it had to be. It seems like they all are though. What's new? You learn more when the game gets like that though. You learn more about your guys-who you have and who you don't. Colt (Farrar) did a great job at the end and Brennan Stewart did a great job filling up enough innings to give us a chance to use Colt (Farrar) short like we wanted to use him short so if we got to that situation, Colt (Farrar) was like our defacto closer today because of who we had available. (Ben) Flora got us two innings so we got him out of there and Brennan (Stewart) did a nice job having quick innings and quick outs. Then we had the big inning. I don't think we coasted I just think we scored one more late, thank goodness, because that was the winning run in the seventh. We scored just enough runs."
On putting together big innings and not giving up big innings:
"We did both today. We put together a six (run inning) and gave up a six. If we can keep running a six and then get a zero or one behind it, we're in business. It's hard for any Division-I team to throw 45 innings in a week and we just did it. Where we are numbers-wise, that's a pretty good testament to the guys we threw. They did a good enough job and threw enough strikes to get a win."
On going into the weekend with a three-game winning streak:
"You don't want to go into practice tomorrow with a bad taste from what happened the day before. We didn't talk a lot about this win or this game, we just said `hey we took care of our business and we go on tomorrow and prepare for Texas'."
On the team's excitement heading into the series against Texas:
"Texas pretty much takes care of itself with your guys. Our guys are trained enough to respect all their opponents and Texas is easy to respect. The biggest thing is you run into Corpus Christi's midweek guys and then you have to gear back up for high-power arms. We'll spend some time on the breaking ball machine and some time getting after it with grinding them. It'll be exciting and a good weekend."
On injured third baseman Nick Popescu: "I don't know for sure. We're hoping to get him back this weekend but it's hope right now. It's not anymore than hope. If we get him back one of the days, two, all of them, that's great. We'll take any guy that's hurt back healthy. No doubt about it."
On being able to watch Texas play in the Houston College Classic: "I think watching Texas for two games, I think it helps us. We obviously charted it and did our deal. It would help us more if they'd leave three of those arms home but having gotten to see them once is a good thing. We'll show up ready to play."
On the Texas pitching staff:
"Their staff as a whole is very good. Even the guys who get to pitch in limited innings, they throw strikes and are competitive. They have high-end arms. They're not taking a lot of chances and are getting the high-end guy. Coach Johnson does a good job coaching them. (Taylor) Jungmann is a special guy. Jungmann, on their staff, doesn't stand out as much maybe because they have a lot of guys that are close. But he's a real guy, a real good competitor. He's got very good stuff. It's hard to run him out of pitches because he's efficient. He'll be all we want. There's no doubt about that."
On playing the first weekend series since February 25-28: "It's really going to be nice to play a weekend at home. That's going to be great. I think our folks will fill it up for us. I expect it to be a great series."
Designated Hitter Scott LeJeune
On today's win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi:
"You know, you have to be locked in when you play a team like Corpus because if you're not, you could be in the seventh inning and you're losing already. The overall thing is you have to be locked in and focused. Concentration is the number one key to hitting."
On the team's ability to put together big innings the past three games:
"Lately, the past three games, we've been able to get the clutch hit when we need to. It's been very important to get that and then getting wins in the end."
On the upcoming weekend series against Texas:
"They're always going to have great pitching and we know that. Most important thing for us is to just do our job because if we try to do too much, it will just be bad news. We just have to play our game and be together as a team."
Pitcher Brennan Stewart
On the midweek series win against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi:
"It's outstanding. You lose some games, some heartbreakers, especially like at A&M. So to come out here and to play well in front of the home crowd, it's great. It helps to build up momentum and start playing harder teams. Corpus Christi is a great team and they battle all the way to the end. It's really big to stay strong all nine innings and keep playing hard. This weekend will be a good weekend."
On the midweek pitching opportunities given early this season:
"I think people are given the opportunities for sure. Coaches are running people out there hoping that they get batters out or get batters to hit balls. I think if you go out there and stay with the game plan, throw strikes. I came in there when we were down one run and I just wanted to make sure we stayed within the game and keep putting up zeros. Once we got the lead, I just wanted to keep throwing strikes and the defense played great. Joey (Kenworthy) made some great plays out there. The offense was able to put together some runs. It was good."
On the defense's play the past three games:
"It's huge. We have great defense. We have had a couple blunders here recently but that's over with and I know we are going to play great this weekend. A pitcher gets in tight spot with runners on, the defense will be able to go out there and make a great play whether it's a diving play, a foul-ball catch like Mayo had today. Just something great, it's really big for a pitcher and the team as well."
On how he feels going into this weekend's series against Texas:
"I'm pumped. I am so excited. I can't wait. I hope I get some opportunities to play. I think we are going to play great. I know they have a great team over there in Austin but it's going to be a great weekend. I hope we get a lot fans in here to help us."
On the motivation going into rival games:
"It was easy to get up for A&M, sure was. I've never played over there. It was the harshest environment I've ever been a part of but it's expected. Conference games are always going to be big like that. We just have to stay pumped. But even those midweek games, like we had today and yesterday, you have to get up and be pumped and ready for them too."
On the confidence level of the pitching staff right now:
"It's building for sure. We got some good starters out of the weekend and the midweek is just running guys out there and to have them battle back and keep progressing on. Just to get those guys out there and have the defense pound behind you and throw out zeros, it's really big."
On the gameplan going into the Texas series:
"They are one of the best in the nation. They're a good hitting team and a good pitching team. They were in the College World Series last year. They have a lot guys returning and they've been winning games. We just need to go out there and hit spots and keep the ball low especially with this wind out here. It's been crazy. Just keep the ball low and let your defense play behind you."
