SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

May 28, 2021

Blade Tidwell

Hoover Metropolitan Stadium

Tennessee Volunteers

Postgame Press Conference

Tennessee - 11, Alabama - 0

THE MODERATOR: We'll begin with questions for Blade Tidwell.

Q. Blade, obviously Alabama starting the regular season wasn't one of your best. What do you think changed for you personally from that time to today, and then maybe specifically what was working for you in this game?

BLADE TIDWELL: I really just thought I got a chance at revenge, honestly. The outing wasn't good when I played at 'Bama, so I've been thinking about it this week. If I played them again, I was going to get my revenge.

Q. Blade, I guess sometimes early morning starter or prenoon start, you kind of got to get warmed into the game. I think you were running it up there 98, 99 in the first inning. Were you loose and ready to go? You talked about wanting revenge. I assume you felt pretty good coming into the game.

BLADE TIDWELL: Yes, I did. The last three days I woke up at 6:30. This morning was just the routine since I've been here. I was awake and ready to go.

Q. 6:30, is that a normal routine for you, or just setting something up for this week?

BLADE TIDWELL: Just this week.

Q. How much fun has this last five starts been for you? And again, how much does that kind of reinforce your confidence in yourself?

BLADE TIDWELL: Yeah, after the Kentucky outing is when I really started getting a lot of confidence. I think it's carried over well the last five weeks. This is getting to the nit and grit grind of the season, so it's been fun.

Q. Was there any extra motivation for you to kind of go out there and do your part given how the game on Wednesday went?

BLADE TIDWELL: There was a little extra motivation, but it wasn't crazy because I always go out there and feel like I need to work hard each time I step out there. I did want revenge given my outing wasn't good last time we played them. So I got another shot at it.

Q. What about from the team perspective? Was there more of a buzz throughout your teammates because of how the game went on Wednesday?

BLADE TIDWELL: Yes, sir, there was. I feel like everybody wanted their revenge. You could see it, the hitters from the start of the game, they just swung it really well, and they just really jumped out on them.

Q. You mentioned this being obviously postseason. Do you consider yourself a guy who is able to kind of get through and rise to the occasion for big moment like this?

BLADE TIDWELL: Yes, sir. I feel like I'm good under pressure, and I have confidence in myself. So when I go out there and the game's on the line, I'm confident, and I'm ready to go.

Q. You're starting to hit your stride the last few weeks, but that kind of seems to be a common theme with your pitching staff, whether it's Will or Camden, the past few outings being really good. What's the confidence level like in your group as you go into the NCAA Tournament next week?

BLADE TIDWELL: I think our confidence level is very high. I know each pitcher and hitter, we all have each other's backs, and we're all hoping each other does the best that we can do. I think we're playing really well as a team and going out there and competing for each other.

Q. I was just curious about kind of your workload and just that 95 pitches or so. Is that about where you all wanted to be at the end of this outing?

BLADE TIDWELL: That's where I wanted to be. I'm not sure. They didn't really tell me a plan, but I was going to go out there and pitch until they told me to come out.

Q. And I asked that in relation to kind of the awkwardness of the tourney and not really knowing when you may pitch, and also next weekend, not necessarily knowing when you would pitch. Was there any different preparation for you considering you started on Friday?

BLADE TIDWELL: We just moved all of our routines up one day. So we got one less off day basically.

Q. Blade, I guess the past three days, you all have kind of fired the three weekend bullet out there. It was Will and then Chad and then you. Are you interested to see the next day or two how the pitching situation will go with you all kind of already having gone this week?

BLADE TIDWELL: Yes, sir, I'm interested to see who's going to step up. I know somebody's going to step up, and that's just the way we play. I'm confident somebody's going to step up this weekend.