May 26, 2007

GAME 11 QUOTES * #4 CLEMSON 5, #1 FLORIDA STATE 1

CLEMSON HEAD COACH JACK LEGGETT
Overall thoughts on the game...
"I thought that we played one of our best games of the year today. David Kopp really stepped up for us and pitched his best game of the year. He got in the zone and worked ahead in the count. We made some good defensive plays behind him and that was the story. Any time you face a line up like that, from top to bottom, you have to have good pitching in order to keep yourself in the game. We were fortunate to keep a lead and keep them from being in scoring position today."

On your attention to detail today versus yesterday...
"We talked a little bit on the bus earlier today that yesterday we didn't hit with men on base and didn't attend to the little things. Defensively we weren't real sharp and we had some base running mistakes that will definitely cost you in a one-run ball game. Today it seemed we were more on target. We got off to a good start with the lead off man on base and double-play ball. That was big for us."

On your different approach facing FSU pitcher Bryan Henry...
Our right-handed hitters did a much better job. Last time we were one-for-something, while this time we had six or seven hits. Our kids did a much better job of taking the ball in the outer half (of the plate) and hitting it the other way. (Bryan) Henry is a tremendous control pitcher. He is always going to throw strikes and be around the plate. You have to be ready to hit because he is not going to give you any extra base runners. Our approach was a lot better today."

CLEMSON RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER DAVID KOPP
On what was working for you today...
"I was definitely working ahead in the count, which goes hand-in-hand with being successful. If you work ahead in the count then good things are going to come your way. I also thought that I had good control of my secondary stuff. My slider was definitely working. I have to give credit to our pitching staff, though, for calling a great game today. Plus, our defense way incredible today. You cannot ever go a complete game without your defense playing behind you. I came in today and just wanted to put my team in a position to win the ball game."

FLORIDA STATE HEAD COACH MIKE MARTIN
On Clemson's starting pitcher David Kopp...
"That was a great display of pitching. His breaking ball was very impressive. He certainly spotted his fastball well and kept us off balance. No doubt Clemson deserved to win that ball game."

On the offense...
"This ball club is a very good offensive club. We ran into two exceptional pitchers in (Eric) Erickson and (David) Kopp. Both of those young men really pitched well. There is absolutely no concern on my part about the offense."

FLORIDA STATE SECOND BASEMAN TONY THOMAS
On the offense...
"We are definitely an offensive team. We're just going to go back and work on the things we need to work on and get the job done next week."

FLORIDA STATE RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER BRYAN HENRY
On Clemson's hitter...
"They had a great approach today. They made some adjustments from last time out. A couple of their guys got up on the plate. That's just baseball. You have to tip your cap because they did a great job and had a good approach. And they won, plain and simple."