Chris Lemonis breaks down State's Thursday night win over Missouri

Mississippi State had to battle but the Diamond Dawgs closed out Missouri on Thursday to start an important three-game series.

After the game, head coach Chris Lemonis talked about a game where pitching proved large for State.

Question: It was a really weird game. What did you think of your team’s play?

Chris Lemonis: “They’re a very good pitching and defense team so you’re going up against a team that can really pitch and defend,” coach Chris Lemonis. “They’ve played Tennessee and won and lost two one-run games. We haven’t been great offensively this week besides maybe Joe Powell. I thought we pitched pretty good. Ball park played pretty offensive if you hit balls in the air so they got a couple of balls off of Khal (Stephen), but I thought Tyson (Hardin) and (Tyler Davis) did a great job.”

Q: How comfortable has Khal gotten in close games?

CL: “Seems like all of his games are tight for the most part and that’s Friday night baseball in a lot of leagues across the country. He’s used to it. He’s a tough kid and was pissed having to come out. He gives up the fly ball more than Tyson does with the sinker so we made a decision there to do everything we could to keep the ball in the ballpark.”

Q: These one run games have gone both ways for you. How did you feel about your pitchers closing it down?

CL: “I thought TD was great. He pretty much threw every pitch her wanted to. Tyson was good not great. He kind of got behind on some guys. I give him a lot of credit for competitng because he couldn’t find it at first. He was behind some hitters and sinking that ball right into the plate. Maybe in the past he gives in a little bit but he came back on two hitters on 3-1 and got the hitters out. He made the big pitch (in the eighth) and I thought that was huge.”

Q: Update on Connor Hujsak?

CL: “He’s getting better every day. We’ll see. Muscle stuff is hard. You just can’t put a date on it.”

Q: What have you seen from Bryce Chance since you moved him to leadoff?

CL: “He’s been great. He had a great night tonight and got our shirt after the game. I thought those two at bats were huge. You know what he’s good at? He’s really good at assessing the pitcher, coming back to the dugout and letting everyone else know what’s going on. It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but he’s a really smart player. You’ll hear him talking to all of the hitters ‘hey it does this’. The second time through, we were a lot better against their starter.”

Q: We’ve seen a lot of different guys out there defensively late in games. What does that do for your flexibility?

CL: “It’s huge right now with Connor out. We’re trying to play a little more offensive early and more defensive late. Amani (Larry) was ecstatic to be out there, as you could imagine. He’s played second base his whole life. Ethan (Pulliam) can play outfield out there too. Michael O’Brien is a young player that I’ve been running out there to centerfield and he’s probably the best defensive outfielder I’ve got so when I put him out there he’s going to run balls down and play hard. Nate Chester is just the old guy. I run him out there and he makes plays. We need them all. This time of year you need everybody and everybody is a little nicked up and banged up.”

Q: Do you think Tyler Davis can come back and pitch this weekend?

CL: “Oh yeah. Maybe even tomorrow.”

Q: Missouri has been a little bit of a nemesis for you the last few years. Anything to that?

CL: “I don’t know about that. I’ve played them a couple times. We didn’t see their best on the mound. We’re going to see their best two guys still left on the weekend. We’re going to have to bring our best effort. It’s an SEC team and they’ve played a lot of teams close. You see the two teams not going to Hoover and it’s a ton of one-run games and tough luck in a lot of things. We have to bring our A game for sure.”

Q: Can you give an explanation on  Jacob Peaden coming out of the game for Missouri?

CL: “We turn in a 27-man roster and he wasn’t on the 27-man roster. Pretty simple.”

Q: Dakota Jordan made some nice plays in the outfield. Just talk about his overall game.

CL: “He hammers the ball to third and has a big walk in one inning. I play him in right because he’s played right all of his life but he can play center. He makes those plays and he made them last weekend in Fayetteville. He’s a really good player. You look at what DJ’s done for us… We go to the Ferriss Award on Monday and he has a great shot at winning that because he’s put together a whole year of great baseball.

“There’s tough at bats in there at times. He’s really matured over the years and I’m really proud of what he’s done this year. He’s been amazing.”

Q: What’s going through your head when you see that hit from Joe Powell?

CL: “I think we’ve all seen it. I usually walk out in twilight, and I point. I’m halfway blind and never see it and they all look at me like I’m crazy. It happens a lot and tonight was a really bad twilight. I had just turned around and told my guys that it’s going to be tough out there and then he hits that ball and I’m shaking my head like I’m real smart afterwards. It’s just tough to see at certain times of night.”

Q: Everyone has talked about the trust they have in those guys out of the bullpen. How big is that you have trust in those players?

CL: “I think it just grows over the year. We didn’t have it in the beginning but the more we’ve run TD, Tyson, Brooks and Cam Schuelke out there, I think they start to learn. It’s hard in this league. It’s the league of no mercy. Even in the ninth, you’re sitting there thinking you’re down to the last guy and how many times does something crazy happen? Having guys at the end is so valuable.”