Everything Missouri head coach Kerrick Jackson said after series finale versus South Carolina

Missouri head baseball coach Kerrick Jackson spoke to the media following South Carolina’s 9-4 win on Sunday. Here’s what he had to say.

Opening statement

“(It was a) tough one, obviously. Going to jump out and have a lead early, and, we weren’t able to hold them off on the back end. We didn’t stay as aggressive as we were early from an offensive standpoint. Ended up with 11 punchouts, and that’s tough when they’re trying to score runs. Mixed in the fact that we walked six times, we just got to be a little bit better there.”

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On what changed offensively after the second inning

“I just think we mentally lost focus. In that second inning, you put up a four-spot. And you start to feel really good about it and know that you’ve got a guy on the hill that’s going to potentially put up zeroes for you. Instead of just continuing to do what we’ve talked about all year, which is play nine one-inning games. Don’t play a nine-inning game — play nine one-inning games. I think we stopped doing that.”

On whether Sunday’s game vs. South Carolina felt like a must-win contest

“At this point, I think they all are that. With coming into this weekend having nine games left, they’re all must-wins. When you do it mathematically, do you have some margin for error? Yeah, it’s small, but you do have some margin for error there. Then you’re also looking for some help from some other teams that we’re kind of right there in the mix with. But, yeah, every game at this point is a must-win game.”

On infielder Danny Corona’s absence in the lineup on Saturday

“In that game (on Friday), he goes 0-4 with four strikeouts. We (are) not in position on a cutoff situation. We don’t trail a runner when we’re supposed to. And we drop a fly ball all because of our focus was not there because of what we did at the plate. I just can’t reward that. You have to be able to separate those two. Whatever happens on the offensive side of things, you can’t carry that over to the defensive side of things. So, yes, you can say it was a reset, but it wasn’t a reset because of the 0-4. It was a reset because we lost focus and it cost us on defense.”

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On what led to Missouri’s struggles at the plate

“I just think it’s a lack of experience in being in situations and environments where it really counts. These kids grew up in a showcase-type environment, and winning sometimes is secondary to that. Now, being in an environment where getting the job done to put yourself and your team in a position to win, I think that’s a different mindset for them. So we’re growing them in that mindset and understanding what it means to have a quality at bat. To not try to get the hit, but make adjustments at the plate, know what the pitcher’s trying to do, stay within your plan and force the pitcher to get you out in your plan. So that’s just something different for them.”

On improvements Missouri must make to reach SEC Tournament

“Just play good baseball. (It’s) the same thing we’ve been saying all year. I don’t think we have to do anything special other than throw strikes, quality at bats, play good defense, play with energy and play smart.

On pitcher Ryan Magdic’s performance

“It was planned with regards to if we didn’t use him on Friday or Saturday in a relief role, that we would start him. And, again, he’s getting better. It’s just — you still got a guy, this is his first time he’s pitched in college in a competitive environment like this, so he’s learning along the way. The big thing there towards where it got a little rocky for him, he’s attempting to get swings and misses or be perfect with pitches. You throw it 96 mph — roll it out there and say, ‘Hey, here you go.’ So we’re just teaching him how to do that.”

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