University of Oklahoma Athletics
Game 4: Quotes
May 31, 2009 | Athletics
May 30, 2009
2009 NCAA Baseball Norman Regional
Game 4: Arkansas 17, Oklahoma 6
ARKANSAS HEAD COACH DAVE VAN HORN
Opening Statement
“It was just a tremendous game all the way around for our team. Obviously Brett (Eibner) got us off to a great start. He gave us five and two-thirds innings and we backed him up with good defense for the most part and outstanding offense. Top to bottom, one through nine, we did a good job offensively. We had some guys come off the bench and get some big hits. We got a lot of two out hits, two out RBIs and those are critical. I think the play of the game was the play Ben (Tschepikow) made up the middle. It was 10-6 and we just couldn't get that third out in the sixth inning. Their shortstop hit a bullet up the middle, Ben got a good break and made the play. We were back in the dugout up four instead of maybe two and they are still hitting. We came in and scored three runs and that was huge for us to answer.”
On hitting the first pitch of the game setting the tone:
“When they punched in a run in the top of the first, we felt lucky to only have given up just one. Chase (Leavitt) hit the first pitch you saw up the middle and we were off and running.”
On coming back with three runs in the sixth:
“I think the momentum had definitely swung to their side of the field, their dugout and their fans. We had to answer even if it was one run. We needed to score and get those hits and we came up with three.”
FRESHMAN CATHER JAMES MCCANN
On leadoff batters getting on base:
“It's real big to get that first guy on and that is what kept us going the whole game. When we get that first guy on we start feeling good and it's contagious. That first guy gets going and all of sudden everyone hits.”
SENIOR INFIELDER BEN TSCHEPIKOW
On the offense turning on in the postseason:
“It's just one of those things in baseball but I can tell you right now we are feeling pretty good about ourselves. Anything can change, but we don't really want to think about the past right now. We are for a reason and we came here with one goal, to get out of the regional. We are going to continue to swing the bats, play good defense, pitch and play hard. “
On being one game away from being regional champions:
It feels really good. We have played well the past two games. It is one of those things where you want to reach out and touch it, it is so close. It is so close but it is so far away because we have a tough game tomorrow against whoever we play against. Every team in this regional is tough and fighting to keep their season alive so we can't come out and be complacent. We have to come out and strike like we did today, stay aggressive, keep playing hard and keep working hard and everything will take care of itself.”
SOPHOMOMRE INFIELDER ANDY WILKINS
On offense carrying over from yesterday's game versus Washington State:
“I think the nine -run inning really jump started us. That whole game against Washington State had just been dragging along and not getting a lot of hits. All of a sudden we put a good inning together and scored nine runs. It really carried over today scoring in the first and we only had two scoreless innings so that was huge for us.”
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OKLAHOMA HEAD COACH SUNNY GOLLOWAY
Opening Statement:
“It just wasn't our night tonight. Things that could go wrong did go wrong. You work hard all year to get to this position and it's a double elimination tournament for a reason. We look forward to competing tomorrow at 1 o'clock. ”
On pitching tonight:
“We didn't execute the pitches we needed to clearly. We had a game plan of how we wanted to pitch and how we wanted to locate. It didn't work out for various reasons.”
On pitching tomorrow:
“Tomorrow we will go to Garrett Richards. We have confidence in him, he is a power arm. He'll come ready to pitch tomorrow. We still have Antwonie Hubbard and Steven Porlier, two more quality starters. I like our chances if we go about it one pitch at a time. If we execute and those variables that should fall into place do this time because of how hard you have to work to get here, then we should be okay.”
On bullpen for tomorrow:
“Some guys that threw tonight will be able to bounce back. Doyle (Andrew Doyle) one of our starters will be able to bounce back, Rocha (Michael Rocha) will be able to bounce back so we will have plenty of pitching.”
JUNIOR INFIELDER BRYANT HERNANDEZ
On Arkansas offense:
“We knew nothing would be handed to us and every team is going to be tough. We are just looking forward to coming out tomorrow competing and taking it one game at a time.”
JUNIOR OUTFIELDER JAMIE JOHNSON
On Arkansas offense:
“You always want to have that shut out. We throw who we can and make some key pitches, you never know what can happen.”
