Baseball coaches love to have a “stopper” in their rotation, a pitcher that can minimize the damage of a skid with a quality start.

Sophomore starting pitcher Brian Smith filled that role Sunday at Ralph McKenzie Field against a Kent State team hungry for a road sweep.

Northern Star: After a pair of tough losses, did you view yourself as a “stopper” in Sunday’s start?

Brian Smith: I knew it was time for me to step up and put the team on my shoulders.

My problem this year has been locating early. I focused on spotting my fastball and curve ball. After that 21-2 loss, I knew it was big for me to step up.

NS: You scored the tying run against KSU Sunday with an elusive slide at home plate that drew an argument from the bench. Walk me through that play.

BS: When I got to second base I picked up third-base coach Steve Joslyn, and he was waving me home.

We knew their right fielder had a great arm — he threw out Dan Jewett earlier in the game — so I rounded third thinking that this play is going to get real close. I wanted to slide into the right side of home, and hoped the catcher would miss a sweep tag attempt. As soon as I slid, I saw an opening so I stuck my hand in. When he went to tag it, I pulled it out and quickly got it back in there.

NS: Did you think the umpire saw that move?

BS: I thought the ump was going to call me out for a second, because he yelled, ‘on the hand,’ and pointed at me. Then he said ‘safe.’ I knew it, there was no way the catcher tagged me.

NS: Most pitchers chart between games, but you keep busy as a DH, how does that help your game?

BS: I enjoy playing before I throw. It really keeps me in the game. I can tell from the bench what the other team’s hitting weaknesses are, I’d say it is an advantage for me to play before I pitch.

NS: How were you able to slow the offensive powerhouse KSU proved to be through the first two games?

BS: Nick Hall and Trevor Feeney both throw hard stuff — in the ‘90s. I’m not quite there yet. I try to not throw two pitches the same way. They were real aggressive hitters that liked to hit the first or second pitch. They kept biting and pulling off pitches which got some weak grounders to Bobby Stevens and Marc Besteman.

NS: How important is being ahead in the count against a real aggressive team like KSU?

BS: I do care about getting ahead, I try to get hitters to chase early when I nibble at the corners.

But I don’t get too down about being behind 2-0 because sometimes hitters get anxious and start to swing out of their pants, that’s when I can mix in my change and curve.

NS: What is it like to pitch in that intense wind that seems to always be at the “Ralph?”

BS: If you miss your location on a pitch, the wind can just carry it out of the yard.