Schlossnagle discusses back-to-back top-10 midweek wins, previews UK series

During Thursday morning's edition of TexAgs Radio, Texas A&M head baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle joined to discuss the midweek win over No. 10 Texas State, Jack Moss' recent tear at the plate and a look ahead to the series with Kentucky.

Key notes from Jim Schlossnagle interview

• I thought Tuesday night was a good ballgame. I said it yesterday, but when was the last time we played an 8-2 ballgame where we weren't having to grit our teeth? Will Johnston did okay in his first start for us this year.
   
• None of us knew what we were getting with Jack Moss, and I heard about him when he was in high school. It's a unique thing because he doesn't run well, but to hit for a high average the way he does and not be a runner means he uses the whole field and swings at good pitches. 
   
• We used Moss as an example of not coming off the fastball and not missing your pitch, especially for a guy like Brett Minnich. He had 21 fastballs at one point in the zone, and he only missed seven. Moss leads our team in most balls hit over 100 mph, and he uses the whole field. He's a professional hitter. I think he needs to get a little bigger and stronger, and he's only going to get better. He's a huge highlight for us, and we need to build around him. 
   
• I think when you go on the road, I've realized it's an “us against the world” mentality. There is an energy in the dugout that is different, and before the game on Tuesday, we had the 12th Man behind us. I reminded our team we were the underdogs in that game. When we have that mentality, we just play better baseball on those days, and we look to continue it.
   
• When you win a game you want to keep that feeling going. There's nothing that feels better than being on a team that's on a roll. Everyone is desperate to win when you lose, but when you are winning, you want to keep it going. 
   
• Micah Dallas has really embodied all the transfers. They all have bought in so well, and they have the Aggie mentality. I don't know what kind of season we are going to have, but we have a lot of high-level humans beings in that locker room. 
   
• Brad Rudis is fearless. He executes all three of his pitches. We were planning that middle game against Alabama, and he's in the game with runners on first and second no outs. He threw a 3-2 changeup that helped get us out of the inning. That mentality has gotten him into the game, and right now, he is super reliable. You know he's going to compete and throw strikes. 
   
• They have some unknowns on the mound, and they have a strong lefty going on Saturday. I think it's going to be a weekend where we see multiple pitchers throw multiple innings. That can really beat down an offense by not seeing a guy more than once. They are going to be really good offensively. and I'm not quite sure what to expect going into this weekend. 
   
• I have never tasted a sip of coffee. I don't even like the smell. I will say I drink 1-2 energy drinks a game, and I hate admitting that because I feel like a 15-year-old. It's a later start tonight, but it will give our guys to get some extra rest today and help us get some national exposure.