SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

May 27, 2021

Kevin Kopps

Hoover Metropolitan Stadium

Arkansas Razorbacks

Postgame Press Conference

Arkansas 6, Vanderbilt 4

THE MODERATOR: Kopps, can you hear us okay? If you could, just start with a statement and recap the game.

KEVIN KOPPS: Wicklander, Monke, and Costeiu went out there, got us through the game pretty well. Our offense kind of like did what it always does and came back -- or was alive and got us back into the game. Then I just went in there and freshened my defense and did what I know how to do.

Q. Kevin, you came in the game and inherited a runner on, I think a 2-0 count. What was your approach there, and what were you throwing to be able to get through that inning so quickly?

KEVIN KOPPS: My approach didn't change. I just pounded the zone with cutters and just trusted the results and got through the inning.

Q. You all didn't get to play Vanderbilt during the regular season. Was there any extra excitement or anything going into this game, knowing it's a team that's ranked really high and a team you haven't faced yet?

KEVIN KOPPS: We were excited to play them. I think we're always excited to play every game. I don't think there's much of a different feel. I don't know, I was excited to play them since we hadn't played them. Just interested to see how it went. I guess optimistic is a better word. I don't know.

Q. Dave said they were hoping to use you in the eighth and the ninth. Obviously had to come in earlier, but you just seemed really efficient with your pitches. Did you feel good about using the minimum amount of pitches to get the maximum amount of outs?

KEVIN KOPPS: Yeah, I always feel good about that. I felt really good warming up today, and I knew I'd be ready to extend if they needed me to, and I just kind of went out and did that.

Q. Dave said he didn't know if they'd use you again or not. If they need you, are you ready for a little more work if needed?

KEVIN KOPPS: Oh, of course. I feel good.

Q. Hu good was it to see Goodheart? You guys are both older players. He's been going through a rough time at the plate. How good was it to see him kind of bust out tonight?

KEVIN KOPPS: Awesome. I think everybody has faith in him that he's going to get through whatever he's getting through. He always hits the ball hard. I love Goodheart. He's like my brother. All these guys are like my brother, but especially him. We roomed together and got through some times together. It's always good to see him doing well.

Q. Knowing him like you do, what is it about his makeup? A lot of guys, they're 1 for 30 or whatever. They just probably aren't going to come back from that maybe, recover from it. What is it about him that allows him to do that?

KEVIN KOPPS: Just his obsession and passion for the game, I would say. He doesn't get down on himself. He knows and believes in himself and believes in the work he puts in. Like anyone else that does that, it will get them through.

Q. Kevin, you said you pounded the zone with cutters. You threw 30 pitches tonight. How many of those were cutters, and did you mix any other pitches in there at all?

KEVIN KOPPS: Most of them were cutters. I mixed in a couple curve balls, and that was pretty much it. I don't know how many curve balls I threw. I don't even know how many pitches I threw, to be honest. I would say cutter-curve ball combination tonight.