Game 2: Quotes

May 29, 2009

2009 NCAA Baseball Norman Regional

Game 2: Oklahoma 5, Wichita State 4

HEAD COACH SUNNY GOLLOWAY
Opening Statement
“I thought our guys did a great job in response to being behind. It is always a tremendous amount of pressure when you are a host at a regional site. I really thought we played well. I thought we took a really good punch from a pretty good baseball team and we responded when we had to. I thought our shortstop Bryant Hernandez was nothing short of spectacular with some plays and things we see him practice every day. To make those plays that he made, when so much is on line, is just really gratifying for our coaching staff to watch our players develop like he has in our program and then respond in key moment s like this and take it upon yourself. I thought J.T. Wise was the same way defensively with the back pick at first base. Our guys find a way when they are not getting it done offensively to help the team win. Of course the guys sitting up here (Aaron Baker, Garrett Buechele, Chase Anderson) you saw what they can do. Baker had a terrific AB and hit a very important home run, even though it was only 4-2 at the time it gave us confidence. Then Chase coming in relief of Andrew Doyle. Our bullpen has been terrific and he has been a member of the terrific bullpen all year.”

On pulling ace Andrew Doyle out of the game and go to the bullpen:
“It's a tough decision because Andrew Doyle has been so good all year. I will tell you this, in a regular season game, even in the Big 12 Friday night, I think he pitches through this. He gave up a couple after they got second and third, and he was up in the zone a little bit and he gave up a couple of fly balls. That's not typical. I knew something might be up. He's not hurt he just missed his spot. “

On the atmosphere:
“I hate to say that I knew our fans would show up, but they were terrific. They really support our student-athletes and in the postseason they have been great. I was a part of the 1995 regional at All Sports Stadium and they were turning people away at the highway. I also believe that if we go and continue to have success our crowds have a chance to really grow. I really thank all the Sooner faithful for showing up. Needless to say Wichita State travels well, Arkansas and Washington State I observed this afternoon had a lot of fans. We need our fans. That's for sure.”

JUNIOR PITCHER CHASE ANDERSON
On retiring 15 of 17 in the relief of Andrew Doyle:
“I just try to go every day and work hard, and do the things we can do, what we control. I control throwing strikes and leaving it up to my defense.”

On the confidence of the bullpen:
“We have some guys in our bullpen whoare terrific so you have to work hard every day. We have Jeremy Erben and J.R. Robinson who are great pitchers. It's fun to be around those guys and a great bullpen to a part of.”

FRESHMAN THIRD BASEMAN GARRETT BUECHELE
On last game against Arkansas:
“They have a ton of good hitters through their lineup. One through nine can beat you. I remember the guy in the bottom of their lineup had two bombs against us. They are a good Division I team, they are good ball players and they have good arms. We just have to come out and play our best baseball tomorrow.”

JUNIOR FIRST BASEMAN AARON BAKER
On hitting performance:
“The swing felt pretty good tonight and I'm starting to see ball pretty well right now. I was trying to focus on driving the ball hard wherever the pitch is thrown. I just have to hit it where it's thrown and hope it finds a hole.”

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WICHITA STATE HEAD COACH GENE STEPHENSON
Opening Statement:
“We're sorely disappointed, but I think we played as well as we could have played under the circumstances. I said that we would have had to play flawless defense and we made that one critical error. We might still be playing had that not happened. I knew what we had to do. We scored early and we did some good things early. When (Chase) Anderson came in he pretty much stopped us. He threw well and we couldn't get any runners on against him. That was difficult on us. We felt like we had to score more than four to win. Oklahoma is a very good offensive team, we got close but it wasn't enough.”

On the Sooners' three runs in the sixth inning:
“We had them thrown out at the plate; all we had to do was throw down a little bit and not short hop the catcher. That was a mistake on our part, had we made a decent throw, we're in pretty good shape. We had to make the plays, and we knew that going in. I thought we gave a great account of ourselves. It hurts just as much to lose by one as it does by 21.”

On tomorrow's game against Washington State:
“I know they're good. They had the game won today until the bottom of the eighth. We're going to have to pitch well, every time we go out we're going to have to pitch well, play flawless defense and get a few timely hits to win the game. We're not going to score enough runs to scare anyone, so we're going to have to play good defense and pitch very well. If we don't do that, we don't stand a chance tomorrow. I believe this team can do this, if we will just go out and execute the things we have to do.”

WICHITA STATE SOPHOMORE PITCHER TIM KELLEY
On the team's defensive strategy entering the game:
“I knew we would have to score, they are a good hitting team. I came out and felt like I had pretty good stuff but I made a few mistakes. They took advantage, that's what good hitters do. I think four runs would have done it if I had been able to eliminate my mistakes, but like I said they took advantage of the mistakes.”

WICHITA STATE JUNIOR OUTFIELDER RYAN JONES
On the team's performance:
“We should have won that game. We had them on the ropes in the first couple of innings. I was just hoping that we didn't sit on it, which is what we ended up doing. I'm disappointed. If I wasn't disappointed then I wouldn't want to be in a Shockers uniform. That's how we are and how we should be, we should go out there expecting to win every game. Like I said, we had them on the ropes, and we just let them back in the game slowly.”

On the team's mentality going into tomorrow's game:
“It's win or go home. I don't want to go home, and I don't think anybody else does. We have a good team; we just lost some momentum around the sixth inning. We have good hitters and when we want to hit. We just sat back on our heels, and we can't do that against these teams. Like I said, it's do or die. Win or go home.”

WICHITA STATE JUNIOR INFIELDER WILL BAEZ
On hitting against Chase Anderson:
“I was just being patient and looking for my pitch. I knew he was throwing some good curveballs, but from the dugout I saw he was throwing some strikes. I was looking for that pitch, waiting for the fastball.”

On his approach to hitting:
“The whole season that has been my approach, to be patient. I try to get on base for my team, so they can drive me in. Tomorrow, I hope that we can do that and get on base. That's what we're looking for.”

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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