Florida 15, Miami 3 Florida Adding on to Each At-Bat and String Them Together

2015 Men's College World Series Saturday, June 13 Florida 15, Miami 3 Florida adding on to each at-bat and string them together. An Interview With: COACH KEVIN O'SULLIVAN Q. Sully, looking at that fourth inning, what were JOSH TOBIAS you seeing maybe a little different from Suarez that LOGAN SHORE maybe he wasn't doing the first three innings you JJ SCHWARZ picked up there in the fourth, anything at all? COACH O'SULLIVAN: No, not really. I think we just THE MODERATOR: Joining us now from Florida, head had good approaches. Obviously I think they had an coach Kevin O'Sullivan, Josh Tobias, Logan Shore and error or two in that inning, and that hurt a little bit. But, JJ Schwarz. Coach, an opening statement. no, I just thought that as the inning went on, I think he lost command of his breaking ball, and we laid off COACH O'SULLIVAN: First of all, just proud of the way some pitches. The reason I got the team together is we played. I thought the first three innings we came just -- JJ, I think, started off the second with a hard out a little -- nerves I guess were getting the most of single to left and three pitches later the inning was us, the best of us. Certainly did not see 11-run inning in over. And we talked about it this morning that we the fourth. But, you know, I can't say enough about our needed to grind out at-bats and not give them quick approach there. We stayed in the middle of the field. innings, because if Miami has the lead going into the Thought in the first few innings we were trying to do too sixth, they've got Hammond and they've got Lefty and much. And obviously the big inning certainly was the then they go to Garcia. So our goal was to try to get his difference in the game. I thought Logan gave us a pitch count up a little bit. And after the first three chance to win. He gutted it out. I thought the bullpen innings or so we hadn't done that. So like I said, he's a did what they needed to do. I know Miami had 11 hits really good pitcher. He's a high draft. He's been but we made some pitches when we needed to. I drafted in the second round twice. It's just one of those thought our defense was really, really good again. And things where we kind of put together some really to beat a team like Miami, whose won 49 games, that's quality at-bats one after another. not easy to do. And we, as a team and as a staff, knew how good Miami was coming into this game. And like I Q. Coach, I know the 11-run inning is obviously a said it was just one of those nights that we had one of big factor, but I guess did you feel that the way the those big innings. So proud of our guys, but we're game was going with mistakes on both sides really looking forward to Monday night against a very good that kind of the first team to settle in would really Virginia team. kind of be able to take over the game? COACH O'SULLIVAN: I think the team that made the THE MODERATOR: Questions? least number of mistakes was going to win. We said that before the game. And you rewind the game, now Q. Josh or JJ, how do you describe that 11th-run that I'm thinking about it, what gets lost in the shuffle is fourth inning, being a part of it? And also first inning. I mean, Logan gets a big strikeout I think watching it from the dugout, what was it like for on Kennedy with the bases loaded. Just gave up one. you guys? And that's the damage-control thing, we talk about that JJ SCHWARZ: I just thought our approach was a lot all the time. Give up one, don't give up two, give up better, and before that inning, Coach O'Sullivan sat us two, don't give up three. And going back to that inning, down and told us, just relax. We were playing a little Logan just giving up one run was a big lift for us. uptight. So we tried to loosen up a little bit and stay with our approach. We were just using the middle of Q. Logan, early on a couple of uncharacteristic the field. mistakes for you guys defensively. You guys are playing in front of 25,000-plus. Was a little bit of JOSH TOBIAS: Yeah, I mean, the same way, we didn't nerves for you guys out there early on? try to have the big at-bat, didn't try to hit it out. We LOGAN SHORE: I think anytime, obviously there's the tried to ground out at-bats, hit the ball up the middle biggest crowd I've played in front of and a lot of our and take the walks when we got them, and just keep guys played in front of, so obviously there's going to be page 1 of 3 a little bit of nerves, but errors happen and things team you have played while you've been a coach at happen, but it's kind of how you bounce back from that. Florida or have you avoided not wanted to I'm confident our defense is going to make plays. schedule Virginia? Dalton came up big in one of the later innings with a COACH O'SULLIVAN: Not really. They're in a different spectacular play up the middle. And those kind of league. So we just haven't matched up in the things happen. postseason. But I still follow them. They're playing as good as anybody in the country right now. And we Q. Coach, can you talk about obviously the know if you get to this stage of the game -- we were decision to start Larson and just the production either going to play Arkansas or Virginia. At this point, from the bottom of the lineup today? Guthrie went I don't know if it really matters who you play. 3-for-3 and Larson doing some things with the bat Everybody's here for a reason. We'll just treat it like any as well? other game. They're very well coached. They've got COACH O'SULLIVAN: First of all, the idea to start good players. Like I said, they got hot. I think they Larson, we have confidence in both Jeremy and Ryan. swept North Carolina at the end of the regular season. I think with the matchup today, we just felt better with Had to go out west and win a difficult regional. They Ryan maybe getting some at-bats. And Suarez is played a very good Maryland team and won two really tough on left-handers, really tough on left- straight at home. And then in my opinion they beat one handers. If he gets that breaking ball going he can be of the better right-handed pitchers in our league in really tough. But we have trust in Jeremy. That's why Killian today. And they had to get through Jackson. we wanted to get him an at-bat tonight and get him in And obviously I know how good those two guys are. right field because we're going to need him moving So I thought they played very well today, and we don't forward. What was the second part of your question? know a whole lot about them. So we'll have to do some work between now and Monday night. But to be Q. The bottom of the lineup, it seemed like honest with you, it's more about how we're playing. Schwarz, Guthrie 3-for-3, overcame that error early, This time of year you can get bogged down with and obviously the bottom of your lineup producing scouting reports and that type of thing, but we need to again today? worry about ourselves and obviously there are COACH O'SULLIVAN: I've been saying it all year long, tendencies and those types of things that we'll need to that's what makes a good lineup. You're playing with figure out. But for the most part we need to worry 27 outs. The bottom half of our lineup has been very, about ourselves at this point. very productive, very productive. And like I said, we grind out at-bats and Ryan got down a big two-strike Q. For any of the players -- Coach, I don't know if bunt today. And his base hit line drive to right was a you want to weigh in on this -- but what kind of huge base hit at the time. But we've got trust in both scouting report would you give on Alonso's bat flip Ryan and Jeremy. Just thought tonight was the better there and it will be easier to enjoy that when it's a matchup would be right-hander in there against 10-run game? Suarez. LOGAN SHORE: Honestly, I didn't really see it. I mean, I guess it's fun. But I didn't see it. Q. JJ and Josh, you had that balk in the third inning that scored the run and you had that big JOSH TOBIAS: I mean, I guess he thought he got one.

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