Alabama-Alabama State Postgame Quotes and Notes
2/22/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 22, 2011
Head Coach Mitch Gaspard
Opening statement
"I thought Taylor Wolfe was outstanding in his work today. The game kind of got out of hand on us there in the seventh. We just didn't throw enough strikes. I told the team that's how quick it can happen regardless of the opponent. That's why we emphasize pounding the strike zone because it can turn on a dime like it did and all of the sudden a ballgame that's 11-1 turns around and you are in a dogfight. Today was a learning experience for us and hopefully we will get something out of that. Offensively, it was great to see (Austen) Smith today. I think he's really going to be a great one. The one thing on our end, it was hard to get in an offensive rhythm. I think in the first four games we are seeing pitching that we haven't seen. We are used to seeing our guys at 88, 89, 90 everyday so we really haven't been able to put together quality at-bats like we want to. Obviously we realize this weekend that we've got to sharpen it up. The competition certainly will pick up. I think our squad is really to perform at a high level this weekend."
On Taylor Wolfe's pitching performance:
"His velocity has gone up a great deal this year, he's been as high as 90 this fall. His changeup was good, as well as his breaking ball. I think we are going to see a different Taylor Wolfe this year than we saw last year.
On Austen Smith's grand slam in the third inning:
"He's one of those rare young players that possesses big time power and with these bats he's one of the few guys we have that can consistently hits home runs. Hopefully that's just the first of many we see from him. The bat is not going to affect the players with real raw power and he's one of them."
On the availability of Tucker Hawley and Taylor Wolfe:
"We wanted to get Taylor out today so he will be available for the weekend and I think it's going to come down to which guy is pitching best before conference. Both have had good outings, so we will just take it into next weekend. The good thing right now is if we don't use one or the other, we have a good Tuesday starter, so I think we are four-deep with our starting rotation and that's a good problem to have when you've got two guys pitching well."
#18 Austen Smith, 1B
On his first home run:
"I was just looking to get a pitch up, something in the air to score the runner from third. But it would not have been bases loaded if they had got a good walk in there. It was an ideal first hit, it felt good for it to be a grand slam. I thought it was a pretty good game overall."
#27 Taylor Wolfe, LHP
Thoughts on his pitching performance:
"It was my first outing of the year, so I just wanted to go out there and throw strikes. I tried to get ahead early and I threw the fastball well today. I ended up putting it where I wanted it, and it worked out."
On striking out five of the last six batters and not giving up at hit:
"As far as results, I don't expect that every game. But I do expect to go out there and pitch to the best of my ability. I just want to go out there, work fast, get ahead and throw a lot of strikes."
NOTES
* Junior shortstop Jared Reaves finished the day 2-for-2 with three runs scored and one RBI.
* Reaves reached base in all four plate appearances with a walk, a hit by pitch, a single and a triple. In four games this season, Reaves has reached base 13 times in 17 plate appearances for an on-base percentage of .765.
* Austen Smith recorded his first career home run, a grand slam in the bottom of the third inning, that gave the Tide a 4-0 lead. The home run was also Smith's first career hit in a Crimson Tide uniform.
* With his nine-strikeout performance, sophomore LHP Taylor Wolfe came within two strikeouts of his previous career-high set last season on April 27, 2010, versus Mississippi Valley State.
* Tuesday also marked the first time Wolfe has not allowed a hit as Alabama's starting pitcher.
* Freshman third-baseman Allen Dye notched his first career hit with a double to lead off the sixth inning.
* Alabama State walked 13 Alabama batters on Tuesday which is the most free passes a Tide opponent has issued since Texas Pan-American walked 14 UA batters on March 6, 2009. The Hornets also hit three Alabama batters as well, meaning 16 Tide batters reached base via walk or a hit by pitch.
