Chris Lemonis transcript vs. Austin Peay: Hitting struggles, pitching progress, injury updates

Mississippi State dropped its second game of the last three when the Diamond Dawgs whiffed at a 3-2 ball game against Austin Peay on Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs didn’t score a run in the first 5.0 innings and had just one hit during that time frame before closing the gap to a run in the sixth, but State couldn’t scratch across a run the next three innings. It got the Diamond Dawgs to 2-2 in the early part of what is a relatively weak non-conference schedule compared to years past.

After the game, a frustrated Chris Lemonis spoke to the media about the issues in the game and with the team early on in the season.

Question: It’s still early, but what is your concern level with the offense?

CL: “I’m concerned. We have a lot of good hitters who have played in this league and played good, I don’t know why we’re pressing at the plate in week one. We’re not making people get us out, we’re getting ourselves out a lot. We’re not controlling the counts. 3-2 count tonight, we swing out of the zone at a ball instead of taking the walk. We’ve been talking about it all week.

“It’s the type of pitching that isn’t a lot of power, it’s just a lot of soft and a lot of sink and you have to be disciplined and we’re just not showing a lot of discipline. I think the first 11 pitches of the game were a ball and we’re swinging.

“I don’t understand right now. We’ve got good hitters that are maybe trying to do too much right now, but we’re going to have to fix that. Make people get us out with good pitches instead of balls out of the zone.”

Q: How important is it to get runs early in the game to loosen up players that are pressing?

CL: “In the two games that we’ve lost, we had opportunities in the first inning and we just don’t take advantage of it and it builds and then you try a little harder. We’ve got good hitters. We’ve got some of the better hitters in the country. It’s being able to get out to a good start and let the game come to us. It’s like we’re out there trying to game. We’ve got to relax a little bit.”

Q: How frustrating is it that you are making progress on the mound and now you’re struggling to hit?

CL: “It is frustrating. We’ve pitched good enough all week to win. We probably have enough to win every game that we’ve played. We’re just not getting it offensively. We’ve got good hitters, they’re just trying to do too much right now. You go through this ebb and flow of the season and sometimes you’re hot, sometimes you’re not. Unfortunately we’ve started out offensively not. We’ve got to figure that out.”

Q: What did you think of Nolan Stevens in his first pitching appearance?

CL: The disappointing piece is we get to two outs and we hit the guy. I’m not as disappointed in the home run as I am about the HBP. Just stay focused and finish the inning – he’s got to get his lefties out. I thought he did that as the night went on. I was happy for him, he’s got a chance to be a big piece for us.”

Q: Brooks Auger had another good performance. What have you seen from him?

CL: “He’s a big piece. He’s got a good slider and good stuff. He’s been out there before. Really good outing for him (Tuesday). We’re going to need him for the long haul.”

Q: Had the bases loaded with no outs in the sixth and were only able to get one run. Is there more you can do situationally?

CL: “Ross Highfill had a great at bat – that ball hits the gap and it’s probably a different ball game. It goes to him (for a sacrifice fly) and there’s first and second with one out and then we don’t control our at bats. We’ve got to be better. You’ve got to be able to be locked in and disciplined in those moments.”

Q: Evan Siary could have given up a big inning in the first but controlled it and got back. Why have you guys been better at limiting the damage?

CL: “I just think it’s a mentality. They’ve pitched well pretty much the whole year. I think coach (Justin) Parker is doing a great job with those guys and they’re just better. Evan is a better pitcher than he was a year ago, Brooks is better, they’ve all gotten a little better and are more mature.”

Q: Update on David Mershon and Logan Kohler?

CL: “They’re practicing, which is good. I don’t know. It’s not tomorrow, but it’s here shortly. That will be a big help. It’s our left handers and I don’t know if you’ve noticed how many guys are coming in and matching us because we have our left handers out of the lineup right now. All of my newbie lefthanders are young. They’re good, but they’re young. I’m trying to minimize them early, but if we get those two lefthanders back it will help. They’re close.”

Q: Pitching plans Wednesday?

CL: “No clue. It’ll be a bullpen day. It will be a handful of guys. I’ll have to meet with coach Parker but he wanted to wait and watch them tonight before we announce so we’ll probably let something out here tonight or in the morning.”