Oklahoma vs. Louisiana-Lafayette Postgame Quotes

Oklahoma HEAD COACH PATTY GASSO

Opening statement:
“That was one of the toughest and intense games that I've been a part of that I can remember. They are a fantastic hitting team, and they never allow you to feel safe or comfortable with a lead because you know what they can do at the plate. Paige [Parker] did a great job battling some of the best hitters she's seen all season. I'm proud of this group. I not only see us going to the Women's College World Series, but I see a future that is so bright because this group figured out how to get there at such a young age. We're excited and just need to breathe for awhile. We will kick it back into gear this week and be ready to do this. Lafayette absolutely made us better. They made for a very, very tough series. I respect them and their program. At the same time, I'm overjoyed that this group found a way to get it done.”

On the offensive mindset heading into today's game:
“I really try not to put pressure on our players by saying that we need to do this or have to do that. They feel it themselves. Again, when they scored, we answered. Tonight Lafayette was answering us pretty well. Our girls just understand the importance of trying to maintain and create momentum and holding a lead for Paige [Parker].”

On her team's ability to score late in games:
“They just are competitive. They have a great spirit, and they don't like losing. They haven't felt that in quite a long time, we don't talk about it, but they just go out and make plays. It's hard to explain this kind of giddiness. It's been a long season and it may feel like that because I'm old and their not, but it's been a long hard season. Yet they act like it's the first weekend of the season. Every time we play, there is just this giddiness and excitement to go out and see how good they can be. It's not something that I demand, rather than something they've just created. They just keep getting better to where our fans or our staff or myself don't want to see it end. It's so enjoyable to watch, and I think they feel that as well.”

On the relaxed nature of this team:
“When we started out at UNLV this season, we were not very good. They were playing very tight and we talked about how that just doesn't work. They accepted that and realized they had nothing to lose and let their guard down. They got contagious in that way and enjoyed playing big series against big teams. It just kept rolling from there, and I don't even know how to explain it. They're good athletes, they have good leadership with Erin [Miller] and Kady [Self] and even Paige [Parker]. They're being lead the right way, but they don't need a lot of leadership. Kelsey Arnold for example doesn't say a whole lot, but she leads by example and the way she plays. You see them making plays for each other and it's just really a cool thing to be a part of.”

On adjustments Louisiana-Lafayette made tonight:
“I think they adjusted their game plan well. I think the person I'm proudest of, besides Paige Parker, is Coach [Melyssa] Lombardi. She kept grinding and kept coming up with different things to throw at them. They are such a tough team that can cover both sides of the plate. They sit on changeups, and she just kept switching things up, and I'm proud of what she did. She really did a phenomenal job.”

On what this weekend's performance does for Paige Parker going forward:
“I think it brings her great confidence. It's going to be a great time to get her rest. She really likes to study her opponent, so she'll have time to do get a head start on that. You listen to these kids up here dream about this moment [making the WCWS], and that's what it's about. Their dreams are coming true. They're not going to freak out there. They might have a little jitter to start, but they're going to embrace the moment like they've done all season long. I think Paige will be at her best.”

On her reaction to the fans' happy birthday signs for her:
“I've got to tell you, I used to like having my birthday in the late spring until I came to OU when I realized it all matches up for postseason play. This could be the greatest birthday ever or it could be one of the worst. I just can't tell you how much I love these fans. Social media is just a killer because nobody used to know (when her birthday was) and now it's just everywhere. But for them to just go above and beyond like that is just so special. It was a night I wont forget. It was really special.”

On the fan attendance even after the weather delay:
“One thing that I'll always remember was when the rain started to clear up, everyone was still standing out in front of the stadium. I told the team, 'Let's go out there and just thank everybody for waiting.' They were still in their cars from the lighting, so when we came out all we heard was a bunch of horns honking. Then they all got out of their cars and we started doing chants, and our team started dancing and taking pictures with the fans. This sport and this team, and you saw the same thing with Lafayette and their fans, it's just a personable relationship between the teams and fans. Their right there, right with us, and I invited them to come down on the field after the game. It's just a personal connection not just with our team, but in this sport, unlike anything I've ever seen. I think that's why you see this sport really taking off because it's a great thing to watch, but it's very interactive. That's why I love these fans, they fill it up and make us proud.”

SOPHOMORE PITCHER PAIGE PARKER

On the seventh inning home run she gave up:
“Like coach said, they are a very dangerous offense and a very tough team to get out. I was just trying to do everything I could to not let them score and she [Kelsey Vincent] had a really great hit with that home run, but after that I just knew that I wasn't going to let them score again. I was going to do absolutely everything in my power to make sure of that and CC [Caleigh Clifton] made a great play on the ball to end it. I'm just very proud to be on this team and it was a lot of fun.”

On the defensive support she received throughout the game:
“Our defense is fantastic and they made some incredible plays. Just having them behind me gives me a lot of confidence that their going to make plays and back me up. As a pitcher that is one of the best feelings in the world.”

On her impression of Lexie Elkins:
“She is probably the best hitter I've ever faced. I have so much respect for her and what she's done. It was a priority to not let her beat us and so I was going to do everything I could to make sure that didn't happen. She is a fantastic hitter and I have a lot of respect for her.”

On what it feels like to go to the Women's College World Series:
“It's really surreal. Like Shay [Knighten] said, this has been something I've dreamt about since I was really young. Realizing that it's coming to reality is just something that I can't describe. Being able to do it with this team is something that is so special. We just love each other so much and it's incredible the way we've come together this year. It's an indescribable feeling.”

On how special it Is having the Regional, Super Regional and WCWS so close to OU:
“It's incredible really. Our fan base is absolutely electric and we love playing in front of them. So to be able to stay at home these past two weekends has been amazing and I know that they're going up with us to Oklahoma City. We're just so excited to be able to do this at home.”

On what the locker room was like during the weather delay:
“It's a party in the locker room, it really is. We had a ton of fun in there today. It was something else, but it was awesome. I think it kept us loose and we just had a lot of fun together and that didn't stop during the weather delay.”

FRESHMAN SHAY KNIGHTEN

On her advice to Paige Parker as she took on Lafayette's lineup:
“I just told her to trust her pitches and to trust what's gotten her here. I told her a couple of times to just breathe, but I don't know if she heard me. I just kept telling her that she was fine and that we had her back no matter what happens.”

On if the team knew today was Coach Gasso's birthday:
“Oh yeah. As a team we definitely knew it was her birthday. We weren't trying to think of that as much, but afterwards she knew. She knew it was her birthday.”

On what it feels like to go to the Women's College World Series:
“For me it's just having that feeling as a little girl of always wanting to get to the World Series. And the fact that it's actually happening, I don't even know what to say. I just can't describe it.”

On the team's 26 hits this weekend:
“I think we're just relentless. We never want to lose a battle, we always fight until the end, and we always try to win each pitch and each at bat. I didn't know we had that many hits, but that's pretty cool.”

FRESHMAN SIDNEY ROMERO

On her advice to Paige Parker as she took on Lafayette's lineup:
“Like she was saying, that is a tough offense. She was in a tough position having to go through that, so I just went up to Paige and I said 'Paige, smile. Smile and enjoy this moment.' She said 'OK.'"

On her home run:
“I was just hoping it wouldn't go foul. Thankfully it didn't, but I wasn't going to let her [Alex Stewart] beat me with some of the pitches she's been beating me on this weekend. I knew what she was going to throw to me and I was able to get a good hold of it.”

On if her home run was a momentum shift:
“That was a momentum swing. After that our team stayed clutch, got the runs we needed, our defense was doing well, and Paige [Parker] pitched a great game.”

On what it feels like to go to the Women's College World Series:
“I cannot describe it. It's something I've never felt before; it was just an exciting moment. It's hit me but not all the way yet.”

On the team's 26 hits this weekend:
“I think that's pretty cool. I had no idea. This team is just one to hit the gaps, not a whole lot of home runs, but we get on base a lot and find ways to score.”

On her relationship with Kelsey Arnold:
“Me and Kelsey talk in between every pitch, and we're always talking about something that's going on in the game. Playing left side with her is just something that I've never had with anyone else. She is outstanding and she's been great to play alongside this year.”

ULL HEAD COACH MICHAEL LOTIEF

Opening statement:
“First of all, I want to thank the NCAA and our site rep, Miss Paula Young. I think this is a great event. This is amazing, and every female softball student athlete should be able to experience something like this. I think it's life changing. I think it's something that they earn and they deserve, and it's fun to watch them. It's fun to watch those kids compete. When we use our resources to give females opportunities to find that part of their personalities, it makes them leaders. It makes them strong. They're going to be in good shape. They're sad today, and it stings, and it's supposed to, but this is a life-changing event, and as they go forward into their lives, they're going to find a way to compete the way they did today. They'll always go back to softball, and they'll always go back to the life lessons, the things that they learned from this game. So, to the NCAA, and to really all of our institutions who make the commitment to make sure that our females—I keep saying that word because there's always too much emphasis on the other side… I've watched my wife go through it, and I've watched my daughter go through it, and I think we need to just keep moving our sport to provide more opportunities for these kids to be in environments like this. When we have females exposed to this, they're going to go out into our communities and make such a difference. They're going to go impact other young kids, other young females. We're going to keep building leaders and we're going to keep closing the gap on equity. I could talk about that the rest of the night… We're going to be sad tonight, and we're going to be sad tomorrow that this team's not going to have the opportunity to go to Oklahoma City because that's our goal… Congratulations to Coach [Patty] Gasso. Congratulations to Oklahoma. They earned it, and they deserve it, and we'll be pulling for them. I said it last night and I'll say it again, our sport doesn't recognize—hopefully y'all recognize—how good she [Patty Gasso] is. She's the best of the best. She's done it over a long period of time, and she's done it with different groups, and she's done it different ways, and she continues to set the bar, so congratulations to her. To my kids and my fan base and our community and our university, wow. You're the most special fan base. You're the most special kids. I think what we have in Ragin' Cajun country is special, and I'm proud of these kids. I'm proud to be a part of it. I love my kids. They never accepted mediocrity. They never bowed down to labels. They never give in to the naysayers. They're fighters, and we had a great season. We had a great season, and the reason why we did and the foundation is based upon is the fact that these kids love each other. They love each other. They care about each other. They fight about each other. They play for each other, and we have a fan base that loves and appreciates them every day. So, I'm a proud coach. Of course I'm disappointed, but in the final analysis, I'm proud. I'm proud of our kids. I'm proud of our program. I'm proud of the way they represented me and this university.”

On if he felt like they had Paige Parker on the ropes when they tied the game 3-3:
“Like [Sara Corbello and Kelsey Vincent], I was confident from the first pitch. It seemed like about halfway through the game that they got emotional, which is kind of how we play. I don't really remember what happened or why or what, but it seemed like they had the momentum all day yesterday and probably into the start of today, but about halfway through the game today, it seemed like our kids figured out we better wake up. She [Paige Parker] probably had something to do with it. It seemed like our kids started playing kind of the way that we've kind of played all year, and when you do that, it's not like you think you have anybody on the ropes. You just compete and have fun. They're not thinking about the outcome. They're not thinking about what's going to happen. You just want to be out there having fun and getting after it.”

On pitcher Alex Stewart's performance:
“I think she pitched OK both days. I know there's a lot of people sitting in this room that don't understand where that kid started from. I do. I know where she started from. I know how far she's come. To see her at this stage, pitching against the No. 3 seed in the country, not doing too shabby is pretty impressive. I'm proud of her. I'm proud of my kids. You're going to talk about the defense and try to compare them. My shortstop's playing slow-pitch softball three years ago. You can't make that transformation in one, two, three years. It takes time. I don't think we're making mistakes or that things aren't going our way because they're uptight. I just think the flow of the game is kind of how it went. You look at the box of the game, and each team only had two strikeouts. That's two teams putting a lot of pressure on each other to make plays. It's a credit to both of those kids that they just stayed locked in and they just kept competing. Alex only walked one. [Paige] Parker walked four. She walked one, so she kept coming. She never backed down. She just kept coming and kept coming and kept coming. That's what you want from your pitcher. You want somebody that just keeps attacking, and that's what she did.”

On if he expects Oklahoma to make a solid run at the national title:
“They just beat a good team, so now we're pulling for them. Auburn knocked us out last year and finished, what, second or third? Oklahoma, Patty [Gasso] knows how to get them ready, and this team is good. If they continue to play the way they're playing, they're going to be okay.”

SENIOR DESIGNATED PLAYER SARA CORBELLO

On the fight they had in the seventh inning:
“I think all season long, our approach never changed. Our motto is 'pitch by pitch,' one pitch at a time—you can't do any more than that. We stayed true to that today and all season long. [We] just fell a little short.”

On her bounce-back season:
“I feel like everyone thinks that some little light bulb went off this year, and it really didn't. My preparation never changed over my four years here. This year, [Coach Lotief] says all the time, eventually the game is going to reward you. I feel like this year was just a testament to that, and, believe it or not, as crazy as y'all think this sounds, nothing changed. My preparation didn't change. Nobody's did. It just paid off.”

SENIOR FIRST BASEMAN KELSEY VINCENT

On their defensive performance:
“As a team, we knew that they were going to not strike out. They were going to put the ball in play. They were going to put pressure on our defense on every single pitch, so I think the whole infield and outfield every single pitch, we were expecting the ball, and that's what I did out there. I was just expecting every single ball to come to me, and a lot of them did, so I was just trying my best to, 'see ball, catch ball' kind of thing. Every time I went to the plate, we were just really trusting our plan that we've been working on and just trying to see those outside pitches and take hacks at them, and it just worked out for me. I think we all left it on the field today. It's upsetting, but I don't have any regrets at this point.”

On if batting against a strong defense can be discouraging:
“I don't think so. They have a really good fielding percentage. We knew they were going to make plays. We were just trying to get the ball in play. We didn't do a good enough job of getting it in the right places. I think we hit it to them a lot, but there [were] a lot of balls that we hit in the gaps, and the shortstop [Kelsey Arnold] made some great plays today. It's just a 'you win some, you lose some' kind of thing. We're putting the ball in play. We were taking shots. Credit to their defense. I thought they played very well, but I don't think it demoralized our confidence at all at the plate. I think we just kept going pitch by pitch no matter what happened.”