I think pitching and defense have been carrying us so far. I've been real pleased with that. In conference games, you're not going to be able to (have many errors). If you start falling apart defensively, you put yourself in a hole.

We chipped away and chipped away, and stayed in it. In the end, we were right there ready for a big inning. But you can't wait around until the last couple of innings.

One of the first things I told (the players) was that if they weren't committed, then they were in the wrong place. I was very up front with them. I expected a full-scale commitment. ... To do anything successfully, you've got to be committed to it.

I couldn't tell you, I don't know. The kids are playing hard and the kids are playing good defense. I'm real pleased right now.

It's always going to start with the guy on the bump. He's going to keep us in there. (On defense), I don't expect them to make diving plays, but I expect them to make the plays when the ball is hit to them, to turn double plays.

Without a doubt, that's one of the most frustrating losses I've ever been involved with as a coach. We just didn't show up, and we wasted a strong effort by Derek. We didn't compete at the plate.