Notes and Quotes: Missouri Game 2
Notes
--Gene Cone singled on the second pitch he saw to extend his hitting streak to 26 games. It sets a new single-season record and ties Whit Merrifield’s school-record hitting streak set over the 2009-2010 seasons.
--Other hitting streaks continued Saturday: Jonah Bride and Alex Destino (4) and Dom Thompson-Williams (3).
--Announced attendance was 7,753.
--Jonah Bride finished the day 3-for-4. He’s now 6-for-10 on the weekend. He was interviewed postgame for the first time all season and the entire team came into the media room to watch.
--LT Tolbert didn’t start for just the second time this season and the first time since Feb. 20 against Albany (the second game of the season). Matt Williams got his first home start of the season at first base.
--Braden Webb tallied 10 strikeouts Saturday. It’s the fourth time in five start he’s had double-digit strikeouts.
--Dom Thompson-Williams hit his team-leading twelfth double of the year. He finished 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored.
--Josh Reagan earned his 11th save of the year, which leads the SEC. He no-hit the Tigers through 2.1 innings; giving up a walk while striking out a batter.
--South Carolina notched win No. 32 of the year, which ties the win total from last season. The team still has 16 games remaining. The Gamecocks are also 24-1 at home this season and clinched their fourth SEC series of the year.
--After Saturday’s game, all three starting outfielders (Gene Cone, Alex Destino and Dom Thompson-Williams) are hitting at least .338.
Quotes
Gene Cone on his hitting streak: “It feels good, I guess. I don’t really have any words to describe how it feels. It feels good to go out there and get hits everyday, I guess.”
Jonah Bride on his hot streak: “I’ve made a couple of adjustments, just trying to be more aggressive. We’re all trying to be more aggressive.”
Alex Destino on playing top-level pitching: “Just facing arms like that where you know they’re going to be top-round guys, it’s a humbling experience getting to face them. Having the approaches and the successes we’ve had against them makes it even better.”
Alex Destino on settling in at left field: “I’m not fast. So it’s key for me to get good reads on balls and taking that very seriously in BP. I want to lay it on the line for my team…I’m starting to feel very comfortable out there.”
Braden Webb on rebounding from his last outing: “(Coach Meyers) honestly told me to flush it. Baseball happened, and just like I said that night, baseball’s going to happen. I just have to continue to be aggressive and attack hitters. And I felt a lot better about today than I did then, but I still have a lot to learn.
Chad Holbrook on sitting LT Tolbert: “I wanted LT to take a day and rest his mind. He’s putting too much pressure on himself. LT’s a good baseball player and he’s feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders and he shouldn’t.”
Chad Holbrook on Jonah Bride: “He works hard, he goes about his business. He doesn’t get too high or too low. He plays great third base. He could hit .230 and be a valuable member of our team…You need guys like Jonah on your team and in your locker room.”
Chad Holbrook on deciding to pitch Josh Reagan: “He was fresh and ready to go. We brought him in with two outs in the seventh so we were looking at a seven-out outing and he was terrific. You feel good about your chances and Reagan out there.”