Everything Justin Parker said after the Mississippi State doubleheader against Ole Miss

Mississippi State had its collective backs against the wall on Saturday night in game two against No. 24 Ole Miss and the Diamond Dawgs responded.

A monster effort from RHP Evan Siary led the way on a huge 4-1 bounce back win for State and now it sets up a decisive game three. After the win, interim head coach Justin Parker discussed the effort from Siary, his team responding and what he wants to see in game three.

Question: You had an amazing night from Evan Siary. What did you see from him in this win?

JP: “It was just such a special outing. He’s probably our hardest worker. I didn’t even realize he had 15 strikeouts until someone told me in the dugout. He had all four pitches working. Commanded all four pitches and had strikeouts on all four pitches – a lot on the fastball, several on the curveball. It was his game; I wasn’t taking him out. I was just checking his pulse and giving him a breather, but I knew how the crowd would react to that. I felt like that got him over the hump and through the eighth.”

Q: Evan just had a different look to him tonight. Did you see pregame that this could be a special night for him?

JP: “I’ve seen it coming on every week. Historically, he’s struggled to put hitters away. He’s one of the best strike throwers in the league, it’s been getting to the finish line in the past and striking guys out. He’s gotten better and better every week. The curveball has been a big key for him. Tonight, the fastball elevated was a big key. I think every week he’s grown as a competitor and a guy in this role. It’s a very tough matchup when he can throw four pitches for strikes and work up and down and east and west.”

Q: Pico Kohn got hit pretty hard in game one. What did you see with him in that defeat?

JP: “I thought his delivery was a little bit sideways. Tonight, I thought he looked like the Pico of old. A lot of that was he started on short rest. Some of it was he certainly elevated pitches. I think the first three homers were on sliders, and they did a good job.

“That’s how their offense is built. It’s a lot of physical, older guys that have big-time power. HE didn’t have his best stuff. He competed like always. I think just having a good work week of getting his delivery back in order and catching his breath a little bit. We’ve ridden him all year and he’s been our ace from start to finish. Nothing will change, it’s just a matter of having a great work week.”

Q: We’re seeing Siary start to gradually go further into ball games. Is there something in particular you’ve worked on with him?

JP: “Everything organically of just filling that role and each week gauging the pulse of how he feels. You can kind of see it in his stuff. You can tell he started to look a little more fatigued in the eighth, a month ago that started in the fourth. It’s just been a process. He’s so routine driven, he does everything right. His lifestyle, his habits are all really good. After coming off of the hip injury, he’s slowly building himself back from a physical standpoint.”

Q: What kind of role did the crowd play?

JP: “It’s unbelievable. Even after the first game, you lose to your rival and don’t play your best. I’m walking to get Evan Siary loose and looking over the left line and it’s unbelievable. It’s 1-of-1 as far as ballparks and environments and our fans are incredible. They lifted us all day.”

Q: What did you tell Evan when you got out to the mound visit?

JP: “I said, ‘this is your game. There’s nobody that works harder; there’s nobody that wants it more. We’re winning or losing with you tonight’.”

Q: Defensively, guys played behind him. What did you see from them?

JP: “We’ve talked about a lot lately. Closing games out, for me, it’s a team effort. You get into win mode late and you start counting down outs and it’s everybody’s responsibility to shrink the field. Guys are really taking pride in that and that’s really what I saw tonight.”

Q: What’s your plan for your guys for game three?

JP: “The plan first is figuring out win that game three is going to be whether it’s tomorrow or Sunday. We are fairly fresh and depending on when that game is, would have Ben Davis back. Matchups, they should all be fresh. We had the midweek off so just regroup. I’ll probably watch the tape again first thing tomorrow morning just getting to guy’s holes and matchup a little better.”

Q: Why did you go to Ben Davis in the 9^th?

JP: “It was just (Austin) Fawley leading off. I had kind of earmarked Ben to be first out not knowing we were going to get eight scoreless. Then the matchup became right, left, right at the end and I wanted the right handed slider.”