WATCH: Chris Lemonis recaps Mississippi State's series opening win over LSU

Mississippi State head coach Chris Lemonis talks Hunter Hines, Nolan Stevens and company after win over No. 2 LSU

Chris Lemonis spoke to the media on Friday night following his team’s resounding 10-4 victory over the No. 2 ranked LSU Tigers.

Q: What was the game plan for Holman?

Lemonis: I just think that Coach Geaut, and we’ve been talking about it all week, (the plan) was to try to take the fastball away. I think they did a good job doing that. We had some big swings early. They’ve been practicing on that. That kid’s one of the best in the country, if not the best. I thought our guys did a great job.

Q: Hunter Hines was huge tonight. What were the conversations with him like during that slump?

Lemonis: This is a tough game. I mean we play, I think, the toughest game to play, especially mentally. There’s expectations, there’s draft, there’s everything. It’s been one, to get to a good fundamental place with his swing. I think that’s been huge. And you’re trying to get him to relax a little bit. I think he was trying to do too much, swinging a little harder, gripping a little tighter. Boy, he looked like he was in the groove tonight, so that was nice to see. I thought him and Logan Kohler had some big at bats for us.

Q: How would you characterize the effort from your pitchers tonight?

Lemonis: Awesome. Even Evan. He got us going tonight. His pitch count, and we ran into it with both guys, and you could just see them get a little fatigued there at the end, and that happened to Evan. We just haven’t had him that high. It’s a tough night, because we don’t have Dohm, and then on top of that we go extra innings and have two mid weeks, so the bullpen is a little packed. So you’re looking at it, and Nolan Stevens just solved every problem. I mean that is a coming out party. He’s been good, but that was a special performance tonight.

Q: Is that something you guys expected out of him coming into the season?

Lemonis: I don’t know if you expect a freshman to do that, no matter who it is. He’s super talented, you saw that tonight, but he’s really talented. He’s pitched with a lot of poise this year, had a big home run on Wednesday night. This kid’s a baseball fanatic. I mean, he lives the game, and I think that’s one reason he came to Mississippi State is because he wanted to be in a town where it was all baseball. He’s a special player. I’m sure you may see him out there swinging the bat over the next two days. He can just do a lot of things for you.

Q: What does it say about your guys to rally around each other like this facing a guy who hadn’t allowed a run all season? And is there any update on Nate Dohm?

Lemonis: I think we play a guy tomorrow who hasn’t allowed a run all year either, so we’ve been kind of giving them a hard time about it. I think our two coaches in charge of those two spots and getting those guys ready, Geaut and Parker, they’ve been awesome in that. Nate’s progressing. We feel like he’s a little better every day. He’s not available this weekend, obviously. I think things are trending in the right direction. Obviously, you don’t know everything, but he’s been better the last couple of days.

Q: What does it say about Nolan being able to work both sides of the game, pitching and offense?

Lemonis: It’s actually really hard. You used to see a lot more two way players, and I’ve had a lot in my career, and it’s harder and harder because everything has become so specialized. He can get stretched. I mean, you have him hit tomorrow and I’m thinking as I’m walking in here do I lift him or get him ready to pitch next week? Then does he have batting practice or what? There’s a lot of decisions to make about it, because that body’s going to be tired. He was out yesterday sick. He wasn’t able to come to practice. Maybe he should miss practice more often. All those different things come into it, so coaching him is really delicate at times, and it takes a lot out of him.

Q: Do you see Aaron Downs being able to come into that starting spot in left field?

Lemonis: Yes, and Bryce Chance can, and Nolan Stevens can, too. We have a handful of players there that can really help us. Yeah, I think he can. I mean, if you came out and watched us take BP, he’s standing right there with Dakota taking BP in terms of how far the ball flies and everything else. It’s taken him a little while to get in the lineup and get comfortable, and I think we’re seeing that right now. He’s a special, special talent.

A video of the full press conference is attached to this article.