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June 3, 2011

KENT STATE
Head Coach Scott Stricklin
Opening statement: That was pretty much what we expected. We expected it to be a pitcher's duel and (Texas State Pitcher) Carson Smith was outstanding for Texas State. (Kent State Pitcher) Kyle Hallock did what he has done all year long. He's just a competitor, he really battles, and I'm really proud of the way he pitched. When we get to the back end of games we feel really comfortable about our bullpen. Justin Gill and Kyle McMillen have been really good. Today, we had some unsung heroes offensively. The middle of our order struggled today but sometimes you see that against really good pitchers. They really bear down and really handle those 3-4-5 guys and they did a really good job with that but our bottom of the order did a great job.

On possibly playing Texas tomorrow night: We're in great shape. Everyone assumes we're playing Texas. Princeton is a good team but I think we are prepared to play Texas. We have a great guy going on the mound tomorrow. (Texas Pitcher) Taylor Jungman is really good. Carson Smith is going to be a top three or four round draft pick and I think Taylor (Jungman) is going to be in the first round. From what I understand, he has had some success here at home. If he's on the mound, we expect it to be a lot like today. We know how Texas likes to play. There are going to try and win 1-0.

Sophomore PH Jason Bagoly
On his approach to his game winning, pinch-hit single: Coach came up to me and told me to relax and not do too much, just try to hit the ball to the right side because we just had to score one guy. Once (catcher) David Line got to third base I kind of relaxed a little bit because I knew that all I had to do is put the ball in play or get a ball to the outfield.

Junior P Kyle McMillen
On escaping some jams in the final two innings: You have to attack. It's all I have ever pitched and it's all I know how to pitch. Today, I did not come out with my laser focus like I usually do so I tried to pick it up and really focus in. It just seemed to work for me at the end. Some guys made some great plays and David Line is a fantastic catcher.

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TEXAS STATE
Head Coach Ty Harrington
Opening statement: First, I thought it was a great baseball game. I'm disappointed with the outcome. We knew going into it that they were a very good pitching team and so obviously we're disappointed. We had chances in the ninth and 10th innings both with men in scoring position. I felt like we had an opportunity to win the game right there and it didn't turn out. That's the way the game is sometimes. You have to be able to deliver hits and their guy did a good job of pitching through the late innings and actually throughout the whole game. I thought their left-hander threw really well, too, to be honest with you.

A big part of the game was [we had] bases loaded and we hit a line drive back through the middle and they catch it. The pitcher makes a great play. Sometimes that's the way it goes. I felt like as the game went on we put some decent swings on a couple balls. This ballpark is bigger than ours obviously. We drove a lot of balls to the base of the fence that at our ballpark and probably a lot of other ballparks they're homeruns. I thought we had some decent at-bats late.

Carson Smith was really good. I can't say enough about his competiveness again to take the mound and I thought he threw exceptionally well and gave us a chance to win. The ground ball back up the middle in the seventh inning I think, probably if he doesn't grab it it's a double-play ball but again that's the way this game works sometimes and that's the way it turned out. I'm certainly proud of Carson's effort today.

On thinking the fly ball in the tenth inning was a homerun: No. I look at the reaction of the left fielder and when you watch enough of this stuff in your lifetime you can watch outfielders and often determine if you think it's going to be out. I was hopeful, probably like a lot of other people, but it didn't turn out.

Junior 1B Casey Kalenkosky
On Kent State's pitching: The first pitcher was able to throw three pitches very effectively. He was able to throw any pitch in any count and was able to throw them for strikes. As a hitter it was hard to stay in your rhythm and in your approach when he was going to be able to throw the pitch where he wanted and when he wanted to.

On hitting differently in a big ballpark: You try not to change your approach. You try not to play to the field, you try to go up there and be as consistent as possible. We did barrel up quite a bit of balls but unfortunately today they didn't drop.

Junior P Carson Smith
On the relief pitching: I trust Jeff [McVaney] to come in. I was getting tired and cramping a little bit in my hips so we went with Jeff and he's been strong all year on the back end. We just trusted him.

On getting run support: They put good swings on the ball. We had a line drive back up the middle but the pitcher caught it. We can't really control that. If we take good swings it can happen and baseball's a crazy game.