Quotes: Oklahoma vs. West Virginia

Quotes: Oklahoma vs. West Virginia
Location: Oklahoma City - Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark
Result: Loss, 0-6
Attendance: 3,925
Date: May 25, 2016

Oklahoma Head Coach Pete Hughes
Opening Statement:
“It was kind of a crazy day with the way it started. We discussed about urgency and temp. Alex (Wise) got us going on the first pitch of the game. As fate would have it, the last time they replaced a pitcher against us in the first inning, it worked out really well for them. You have to give (West Virginia Pitcher Ross) Vance a ton of credit. He came in and kept the ball down and really managed our offense. We had trouble figuring Vance out. You have to be super-disciplined against those lefties. When they are on their game, it can be a long afternoon or morning like it was for us today.”

On Jake Irvin's struggles early in games:
“There are a couple things going on there. He had to sit around and wait longer after West Virginia's pitching change. He would never use this as an excuse, and I won't either, but he got hit in the eye with a foul ball in the dugout. His eye was swollen so we had to take a delay, glue it together and get it bandaged up. He is a tough kid; that's why we recruited him. We have to defend the bunt, though. They went bunt, bunt, and then hit a three-run home run. I thought he pitched okay, but they started stringing their hits together. I thought West Virginia was feeling comfortable, and that is why we switched it up and went with J.B. (Olson, RHP). I thought the outing was pretty erratic, but he pitched his way out of trouble a couple times. He has pitched well his last few outings, but he was a little off today.”

On West Virginia's early pitching change:
“First of all, that kid (Ross Vance, West Virginia) woke up this morning never thinking he was going to pitch. That was unbelievable. Even though I was on the other side, I still truly appreciate that kid's effort because that is really hard to do. He was good mixing up his pitches and keeping the ball down in the zone, and it presented a problem for us.” On his team not capitalizing on the early pitching change: “It was a big play in the game. We wanted to set the tone and get on the scoreboard first. It was a big momentum swing. They went from panicmode to a loud rally cry in their dugout. It was an opportunity lost for us, and it was an opportunity to get momentum back in their dugout.”

Cody Thomas, Jr., IF
On the change in momentum after Sheldon Neuse was thrown out at home plate:
“It was one of those plays in the baseball game that happens all the time. The momentum goes back and forth throughout the game. They made a good play, got it off the wall quick, and made the relay throw to home.”

Alex Wise, Sr., OF
On his team's goals moving forward:
“We have the same goals. It's tough to win the tournament, and it's going to be a little more difficult now. I think we have a good group of guys. We are going to wake up a little earlier tomorrow and try to get it going from the beginning instead of waiting until the fifth or sixth inning to get going.”