Alabama - Vanderbilt Quotes and Notes
4/22/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 22, 2012
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COACH Mitch Gaspard
Opening statement
"I was obviously disappointed in the back end of the game, but I think that for our team you have to look at the big picture. We had another really good start today from Keller; he really just battled to work through those six innings. Offensively, we did some good things in the front part of the game. We built a good lead, but we broke down in the eighth inning. We walked a couple of guys and had a double play that we weren't able to turn. That led to Harvey's big hit, and then Kemp had a hit to tie the game. Then, we made mistakes in the ninth like the ball in the outfield that led to an extra bag. Overall it was disappointing, but looking at where we were and where we played this weekend, if we'll continue to play and improve this way I think we'll put ourselves in a position to have more success."
On Kamplain staying in the bullpen:
"We kind of used him in that role to take a look at him. He's had a lot more success as a starter, but we wanted to look at using him twice this weekend. It worked out well for us on Friday but today it didn't work so well. We'll evaluate the weekend and look at the starters to see where we're at, and we will put everything together before we head to South Carolina."
On Austen Smith, and how comfortable he was on the field today:
"He looked a lot more comfortable today. I think that yesterday's home run got his confidence back up. He'll continue to do that, he's a run producer, and he will continue to provide a lot for us. You need that kind of guy in the five-hole to drive in runs and put good swings on the ball."
On going on the road to Samford:
"It's been a tough week for us on the road. Samford's obviously a terrific team and they're doing very well this year. They gave us all we wanted here earlier in the season, we were very fortunate to win that game. Then we hop on the plane for the ESPN game against two-time National Champions South Carolina, who are also playing very well. We've got to play well this week and that starts on the mound with good pitching, but we have to be complete and play well in all areas this week.
#7, Ben Moore, C
On today's loss:
"That was not the way we wanted this game to go. To be up 7-2, and then to let them come back and beat us, that's tough to deal with."
On if the team can put this game behind them:
"Yes, I think we can. We played very well all weekend, we just fell apart right there in the eighth inning. We're playing well right now, and we just have to keep that going this week, and into South Carolina next weekend."
On what made this weekend different for the team:
"I think that as hitters we decided that we were putting too much pressure on ourselves and we decided to just take a deep breath, get up to the plate, and hit. Our approach overall has been a lot better lately."
POST GAME NOTES:
* With four runs in the series versus Vanderbilt, including two in today's game, UA Senior centerfielder Taylor Dugas passed Andy Philips for third place on the all-time career runs list with 223 total runs. He is now 21 runs behind Jeremy Brown, who sits in first place with 244 career runs.
* After going 2-for-5 in today's game against Vanderbilt, Dugas is now second all-time at Alabama with 314 total hits. He is eight hits behind Andy Philips' school record of 322 total hits.
* With two hits on Sunday, Dugas has had multiple hits in 14 games this season, giving him 99 career multiple hit games in his career.
* After being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning of today's game, Dugas is now tied with Matt Bentley for fourth all-time in hit-by-pitches with 37.
* Ben Moore was 4-for-4 with two runs and one RBI on Sunday to go 8-for-11 (.727) for the series with four total runs and three RBIs. Today's game marks the first four-hit game of Ben Moore's UA career, and his 14th total multi-hit game.
* Senior third baseman James Tullidge notched his first career triple in the bottom of the seventh inning as part of a 1-for-2, one run day at the plate. Additionally, Tullidge reached base in three of his four plate appearances.
* Austen Smith went 2-for-3 on the afternoon with two RBI, tying his season-high for RBI. It was Smith's second consecutive multi-hit game and third of the season.
* Smith, the Tide's first baseman, collected a career high-tying 13 put-outs for the second time in the series against Vanderbilt.
* Junior Brett Booth collected his team-leading 28th RBI in today's game. Booth had an RBI in each game of the series.
* Jared Reaves went 2-for-5 today with one run and two RBI, finishing the series against Vanderbilt with a 5-for-13 record with four runs scored and as many RBI. It was Reaves' 14th multi-hit game of the season and 43rd of his career.
* UA starting pitcher Jon Keller threw 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits with five walks and four strikeouts. Keller tossed 104 pitches on the day.
