Chris Lemonis recaps big series win over Georgia

Adversity certainly struck Mississippi State again this weekend but the Diamond Dawgs answered.

After a devastating loss on Saturday night, MSU came back from 5-0 down against Georgia and won the series in a 9-8 victory.

Head coach Chris Lemonis was spirited after the SEC’s decision to eject several starters in the Saturday game but the coach was proud of how his team fought back on Sunday. He spoke to the media about that bounce back and the importance of the win.

Opening Statement:

CL: “It’s been a crazy 24 hours. I was pretty upset in here last night – rightfully so, I think. It was never about our crew of umpires we had on the field. I thought they were phenomenal. They handled everything the way they should do it. I was on the phone with Zac Selmon at 3 in the morning and back on it at 6:30 I think. I need a nap is what I need.

“I just wanted to make sure I make that statement. It was a weird thing, but the umpire on the field, I just want to make sure that we understand these guys were first class and did an unbelievable job all weekend long.”

Question: What did you learn about your team working through the emotions of the weekend?

CL: “They’re tough. They’ll compete. There were so many times today they could have folded and they just refused and it’s been like that all year long. This hasn’t been an easy year. It’s been a fulfilling year, but I feel like it’s the old Rocky movie. We keep getting hit in the nose and we keep getting back up. I think we can play with anybody in the country.”

Q: A few weeks ago you talked about Tyler Davis’ confidence. What did you see from him in the game to give you those 3.0 scoreless innings?”

CL: “How good was that today? That was special. He had a tough one (at Florida) and he’s bounced back from that and that is about as good as he could be tonight.”

Q: We’re at halfway of the season, what’s your assessment of the team?

CL: “I think we’ve got a chance to be a really good team. We’ve got to keep growing and get better. This was a stressful week, I can tell you that, but they play hard and we’re talented. There’s some things that we can do better. We let the momentum go away from us in these games this weekend. That’s the most disappointing side.

“We got a pick off last night, we got picked off today, we lose our shoe going first to third. The biggest thing about the play last night is we had all the momentum in the world and we gave it back to Georgia. We have to do a better job in those moments and it’s just between the ears.

“We don’t win the game today without Connor Hujsak and I’m sure he’d like to put his head in the sand (on the pickoff) but he’s such a good player and he leads so hard at such a high level.”

Q:You guys have struggled to win one run games. How big was that to get that win on Sunday?

CL: “It’s huge. All the emotion that went through this and what you need in the league to get two out of three at home. We felt good about it all weekend and obviously everything went upside down, but to get this one today gives you a lot of momentum going into next week. It’s rivalry week and it’s a big week for us.”

Q: You started Nate Dohm and then he came out early. Where is he with his injury?

CL: “I don’t know. It wasn’t anything major, he just didn’t feel comfortable and I just wasn’t going to mess with it. He said ‘coach’ and shook his head. He’s too valuable. He has such a long career and if he’s not feeling 100%, I don’t want him out there.”

Q: What do you make of the way your team fought today after going down 5-0?

CL: “That was a big inning. Our guys could have put their head down at that point. That’s a scary lineup over there and the wind is blowing out and you know you’re short on arms on Sunday. Connor Hujsak gets the fly ball (in the fourth) and never starts running. That’s a great play. You could put your head down and quit, he wasn’t doing it.”

Q: You guys navigated the hitting most of the weekend. What were your thoughts on the pitching in all three games?

CL: “I thought they were great. They’ve pretty much done that all year, especially in our league. Coach (Justin) Parker and our staff have it going on right now and they’re making a lot of great pitches. That one inning kind of got away from Evan (Siary) and that’s a tough one for your young pitcher. I don’t agree with that rule – they don’t care what I agree with. You’d like for your guy warm up in the bullpen and then be able to come out. It was rushed and nothing feels right and I thought it was tough on Evan who has been good for us of late.”

Q: Talk about Joe Powell’s big double.

CL: “He hasn’t seen live pitching in weeks and he has two hits in the last day. He hasn’t been out there and kind of got rushed into it but I thought he played well and caught great too. We just kept bouncing back – all parts of our lineup. Poor Hunter Hines, we could have rolled it up there and he couldn’t hit it earlier in the game and he gets probably the biggest hit of the game.”

Q: What has Connor Hujsak meant to the lineup in SEC play?

CL: “Him and Bryce (Chance) are playing great. He does so many things for you. He’s athletic, he runs, he hits for power. He’s just super competitive in the box and putting a lot of balls in play hard. I think he got an error on the one ball, but that’s a really hard play that got hit up the middle to win it.”

Q: You talked about the team not having quit in it. What is it about them?

CL: “I don’t know. I would like to think it’s some of those other guys. Usually I would say it’s Johnny Long, but his ass was back home and out of the stadium. They were yelling ‘Free Johnny’ in the locker room when I walked in. He’s such a tough, hard-nosed kid. He has brought that, Cam Schuelke has brought that, Khal Stephen has brought that to a group that has gone through some ups and downs and gone through some hardships over the years. I think it’s a combination of all of it.”

Q: What were the emotions like after the last out?

CL: “Exhausted. I wish I could be excited, I’m just worn out right now. I gave all the coaches a hug and I know our kids felt that way. You’re just proud of your kids as a coach.”

Q: What was Johnny’s reaction to how things unfolded on Saturday?

CL: “He was crushed. You have a kid that plays with a lot of edge and probably hasn’t played in this emotional environment as much and it got the best of him. He is such a wonderful kid and such a great addition to our team; I hate it for him. It probably hurt him more that all the other players got pushed out and it weighed on him a lot, but he’s at the top of our clubhouse in terms of leadership. I’m sure he’ll be hanging out with the guys and having a good time here in a little bit.”