2021 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

June 27, 2021

Christian MacLeod

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Press Conference

Q. Is a lot of water under the bridge for you since this thing started but you're going to be starting Game 1 at a College World Series final. Has that sunk in yet and what are your thoughts about getting the opener?

CHRISTIAN MacLEOD: Yeah, it's awesome. I'm going into it as it's just another start. You can't make the moment bigger than what it is. Obviously we're really excited to be playing for a National Championship, playing a quality opponent with Vanderbilt, but we've just got to stay calm, cool and collected and do what we've done all season, playing together, playing for each other.

Q. You were so good at Vanderbilt that first time through the order, I think you had seven strikeouts and rolled through them and things unraveled for you later in the game. What did you take away from that ballgame and what you were able to do against that lineup?

CHRISTIAN MacLEOD: Yeah, I thought I went into that start, I had some pretty good stuff. Changeup was working well. I was coming into the ball early on in the game and I think it was in the fourth inning kind of lost feel my changeup a little bit and left some pitches up and they made me pay for it. It's a really good lineup over there. It's definitely something you've got to have is command and have all three pitches going.

Q. Your last couple starts didn't go the way you wanted but talking about the coaches, they are incredibly confident in you and that it's about locating that fastball a little better and you'll be the Christian MacLeod that everybody knows that you're capable of being. How have the last couple days gone preparation-wise, and how confident are you that you'll be able to get back to that mid- to early season form?

CHRISTIAN MacLEOD: It's been good. The last few days have begun about. I've thrown in the bullpen a little bit. They had me down there, and almost came in against Texas and everything. But I've been feeling good. Been working on fastball command and everything. Everything's feeling good. Arm feels great. I'm ready to go.

Q. You talk about almost coming in against Texas. Mentally how did you juggle that knowing that you could be the Game 1 starter or you could be pitching an elimination game? How did you process all of that and prepare for what's coming next?

CHRISTIAN MacLEOD: Yeah, you know one thing we've said all year is taking it one game at a time. You know, I'm willing to do anything for this team.

So when they told me to go down to the bullpen and start getting loose and everything, I just went into it as just like a start, it's a regular inning, don't make the situation bigger than it is. Don't change your routine or anything. Just go about it, make sure you have all three pitches working and then go with it.

Q. When you get out on this stage, you talk about not making the moment bigger than it is. A National Championship series, that's a pretty big moment, but how do you take it back and say, there's a guy, here is the mound, there is the bat, just got to pitch?

CHRISTIAN MacLEOD: Yeah, exactly. It's something that we've said together is, you know, we've work so hard starting from the time we got here this fall. We've worked together and we've had good practices and we've worked hard in the weight room and everything.

I think we really just think back to those times where we were grinding and the team chemistry, just taking everything into account of what we've done this year, and when it comes down and they say play ball, we're going to go and do what we've been doing.

Q. Y'all had so much expectations for this pitching staff and so much talent but might forget that the third starter has been undefined with guys rotating this year, and you guys have pieced it together a lot this season. How much of a grind has it been for this pitching staff to get to this point and have an opportunity to win a National Championship?

CHRISTIAN MacLEOD: It's been huge. We've had a lot of guys step up and throw some really big innings for us. This staff is really talented and everybody works really, really hard.

I'm super proud of every single guy. Every guy shows up every day and works with Coach Foxhall and works with each other and everybody motivates each other. It's one guy after another stepping up and making that pitch for us, coming in, getting that inning, getting a guy out. Everybody steps up and does their job and everything and that's been a huge part of our success this year.

Q. Things didn't go as well as you wanted last time, so how eager are you to get back on the mound and what will you do to mentally prepare?

CHRISTIAN MacLEOD: Definitely ready to get out there can bounce back. Obviously I wasn't happy with how I pitched against Virginia. I didn't have my best command and everything but this is a great opportunity to bounce back and I'm thankful for another opportunity to go out and pitch, especially for a National Championship. Means the world to me. Means the world to be a part of this team, so I'm looking forward to going back out and competing.

Q. I know you don't pitch against the other pitcher, but does it factor into your preparation when you know Jack Leiter is going out on the mound for the other team?

CHRISTIAN MacLEOD: Not really. That's not really in my control who they are throwing. I think our hitters are going to go about preparing. All I can do is have my good routine, get mentally prepared and everything have and my good routine and try and pitch to the best of my ability out there. Give my team the best ability to win.