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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Ole Miss vs. Sam Houston
6/1/2007 | Baseball
OLE MISS
HEAD COACH MIKE BIANCO
Opening Comment
"Tonight was a great game for college baseball. Will (Kline) didn't have his best stuff on the mound, but he kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win. The offense was fantastic tonight and we were able to get some big hits throughout the game. We were able to make some great defensive plays, especially in the outfield."
On the team's offensive performance:
"The offense was terrific tonight. We felt good coming in to this weekend and we came through with a great offensive performance. During practice we went back to some of the things that we did earlier in the season and, by the way we practiced, I felt we could come out and have a big night and we did."
On the Zach Miller Triple:
"Zach was our MVP tonight both offensively and defensively. His play in the fifth inning was the best play I've ever seen. He was fantastic tonight. "
On playing Southern Miss Saturday:
"We haven't played them in a couple of months, but watching the way they finished the season was impressive. They pitch well and have a solid lineup. It's going to be a great game."
SECOND BASEMAN ZACH MILLER:
On his performance:
"I saw the ball well tonight and was able to get some hits early. I hit the ball hard and made something happened."
On his triple:
"When I reached second, I saw that the ball was still at the wall and just went for it. I took a chance and it ended up working out for us."
STARTING PITCHER WILL KLINE:
On his night:
"It wasn't really my night. But when the pitcher doesn't have it, it's big for the offense to put up 14 runs. I didn't have my best stuff tonight, but I was happy that we played so well offensively."
LEFT FIELDER JUSTIN HENRY:
On the team's experience:
"It helps to have the experience that most of out team has. If we had a younger team that has never been through this kind of situation before, we might be in a different position right now. The guys that have been here before know what we have to do and what it will take for us to succeed in the tournament."
On Saturday's starting pitcher Barry Bowden:
"My freshmen year we faced (Barry) Bowden all three times we played Southern Miss. He works both sides of the plate and pitches well. It's nice to be familiar with a pitcher we've played before, and hopefully some guys will remember some of those things tomorrow."
SAM HOUSTON
HEAD COACH MARK JOHNSON
Opening Comment
"I thought Jacob Howard gave us a chance to win. Obviously we made three errors that were costly to us. Good teams take advantage when you make a mistake. Ole Miss did a great job when we would make a mistake taking advantage of it."
On tonight's big plays
"I thought they made some nice defensive plays. Their shortstop almost pulled one out. He's an outstanding player. But their rightfielder made a good play, and their centerfielder got one right off the bat with Bobby Verbick. He got a hold of that one, and that had a chance to bring us right back and bring us relaxation and some comfort."
BOBBY VERBICK, JR., OUTFIELDER
On responding to the 4-0 lead
"We were told coming out, with the crowd and everything, that if they did get ahead early to stay within ourselves and to not take any at-bats off, not one swing. We stayed in our gameplan, and that is why we were able to come back."
On the game plan to against Will Kline
"We tried to stay short. We knew he throws hard, and he has a good change-up. Our team has a bunch of short swing guys, who swing the bat and put the ball inplay. Those kind of swings can get to a good pitcher. I thought we swung it pretty good tonight."
JACOB HOWARD, SO., PITCHER
On the atmosphere
"At first I thought I was really going to be nervous about it, but I got out there and I was fine. I really didn't hear much unless it was a big play on our side or their side, but it was fun."
On the approach to the night
"Ole Miss has some great hitters. You make a mistake, and they will hit it. We really tried to hit the outer-zone, and it felt like it worked. We had a little bad luck and they capitalized. Other than that we just tried to go right at them."
