June 4, 2010
ALABAMA COACH MITCH GASPARD
Opening Statement:
“I thought for us it was just a complete game. I thought (starting pitcher) Nathan [Kilcrease] was outstanding from the first inning on, and we really got the offense going. We did a nice job executing early in the game, getting some bunts down and hit-and-runs and then some power showed up with Josh [Rutledge] and Clay [Jones]. I thought we played really well for nine innings today.”
On offense:
“This is a better offense than has shown up for most of the year, and I think right now you’re starting to get some guys dialed in with guys who really have had good years throughout. Now we’ve got more guys clicking, so now you’ve got six or seven guys going well, rather than just two or so. When that happens, you score more runs.”
On pitcher Nathan Kilcrease:
“I thought early he was just a little bit up in the zone, but still had the ability to make pitches when he needed to. One thing about Nathan–I believe that’s his 32nd outing, his fifth start–but he’s been the most consistent pitcher we’ve had all year.”
Taylor Dugas, Soph., OF
On today’s performance:
“I wanted to come out with a bang. This is a new season for us right now. We’re trying to get to Omaha, and we wanted to come out and play well today.”
On Elon’s pitching:
“The first time through, we didn’t do too much. Once you see a pitcher two times or the third time around, you start to pick up the ball a little bit better. We had a good idea with our scouting report of what he was going to do, so we took advantage of it.”
Josh Rutledge, Jr., INF
On offense:
“I think (Taylor and I) were seeing it pretty good today. It really helps when Taylor gets on and puts their pitcher in the stretch, and it just gives us a little more confidence. One through nine, I think we swung it well today.
“It’s always good to get the first run, get you some momentum going, and then after that, I think we just started clicking. People got on and we were bunting them in, hitting them in, just whatever. It was just working for us all day.”
Nathan Kilcrease, Jr., P
On performance:
“Early on, I couldn’t really get comfortable. I was leaving pitches up and then I’d leave them down. But I still made a couple of pitches and got out of jams. In the latter part of the game, I found my rhythm and kind of settled in a little bit and gave us a chance to win.”
