University of Arizona
Head Coach Andy Lopez
Opening Statement:
“It was a great ballgame to be a part of. I just told the club a little
while ago that we were on the other side on Friday night. It was a
great college baseball game.”
On the shape of his pitching staff:
“We have got two fresh arms. One of them has been a starter for us. I
am sure that Guilmet will tell me he has some innings in him and we
didn't use Jason Stoffel tonight. So we will use him a little bit
tomorrow in a closer real if we get that chance. This is where pitching
depth really becomes the issue. We have tried to recruit for that so we
will find out in a couple hours. That is what it comes down to, people
going out and putting together some quality pitches and trying to keep
it under control.”
On possibly intentionally walking Schermerhorn:
“We talked a lot about it, but to be very cant with you, I know if a
guy is hitting in the three-hole at Wichita State he is probably a
pretty good hitter. Both of those guys are really good hitters. We
thought the matchup would be maybe a little bit better. We had to bring
our guys in in the outfield to get a chance to get the assist at the
plate. Its a game of inches, its the way the season pans out. I
am glad we played well in this setting with only three of them having
postseason experience prior to walking in here. I am anxious to see how
we will come out tomorrow.”
On momentum heading into tomorrow:
“I have always said momentum is on the mound the next day. Hopefully we
will get a good starting performance tomorrow. If they have momentum
usually a good start will slow it down. I hope that momentum will be on
the mound with an Arizona uniform on. Emotionally, there is no way that
you can deny that that is a big win and a great win and they are at
home. But, momentum usually figures out what is happening on the hill.”
On WSU's pitching staff:
“They did a marvelous job for what they had to do. It is not easy going
through the loser's bracket. I have had to do that a time or two. But,
he (Capra) set the tone for him and did a marvelous job. But they need
this win badly. I thought they did what they had to do. They played
great baseball and so did we, but we just came up a little short.”
Relief Pitcher Daniel Schlereth
On the ninth inning:
“I am just disappointed. I wish I could have pulled it out for my team
and picked us up. But it didn't go our way tonight. Hopefully we get
one tomorrow.”
On playing in a tough environment:
“Its great, this is why we come to Arizona. We don't come here to play
the lower level teams, we come to play in a big atmosphere against good
teams. That is the best it can get right there.”
Wichita State University
Head Coach Gene Stephenson
On today's win:
“I am so proud of our players. They have really competed well since
losing that heartbreaker the first night. We played well, we had some
mistakes tonight. They were little ones but they cost us each time. But
we still battled back and did the job to score and win. Great pitching
and great defense at critical times, and a tremendous crowd. I don't
think there is any greater feeling than having that many people
screaming and hollering for you and being able to deliver for them.”
On tomorrow's pitching decisions:
“Our plan will be to go with Travis Banwart tomorrow. Whatever we've got we will throw it at them.”
On having the Regional Championship at home:
“This is just another one in a long line, but this is the first time we
have been in a Regional Final in this stadium and this size. This is
everything we ever thought it would be. Every game we have been in the
crowd has been really phenomenal. We always love the opportunity to
win. This win tonight has put us in the position to win the Regional.
Hopefully , tonight we will get enough sleep and put us in a position
where we will be ready to play tomorrow.”
First Baseman Derek Schermerhorn
On his game-winning hit:
“It went through my mind and it didn't happen so I had my mind set on
the lefty. I knew it was going to come down to me as soon as Bascue got
on. I knew I had a chance to win the game. I saw him earlier and he
walked me so I saw his pitches and I was pretty confident. I was just
trying to hit something into the gap.”
On today's win:
“We are very excited. We played well today. It was probably the most
exciting game I have ever played in college, let alone anything else. I
am excited to come out and play tomorrow. Last year left a really bad
taste in my mouth and this is my senior year. I love this place and I
am not ready to leave yet.”
On having the NCAA Regional at home:
“It is definitely advantage to play at home with our crowd. We went to
Oklahoma last year and I think we had more people there than they did.
Arizona's got some fans here, but nothing like we got.”
On trying to win a Regional:
“Personally, I have always thought we have been the better team at all
the Regionals, but we just haven't got it done. It means a lot to me to
go out on top and I am going to do everything I can. Tonight, our
pitchers kept us in the game and gave us a chance.”
Starting Pitcher Anthony Capra
On his start:
“I just wanted to come out and set the tempo, let them know that we are
still are and we aren't going to fold for anyone. I didn't know what I
would have left with one day's rest, but I felt good once I warmed up.
I just wanted to work ahead and keep my team in the game as long as I
could.”
On facing Arizona again tomorrow:
“They are going to come out tomorrow and they are mad they lost. They
are going to try and take care of us. But, we know we have the
confidence and we want to get it done. We know we can get it done.
We've had too many heartbreaks, I have been here for two years and its
time for us to win one.”
On his pitches tonight:
“I threw a couple curveballs, the changeup wasn't very good but I got a
couple outs on that and just worked off the fastball. Rhinehart is a
good hitter when you leave a ball up. He did just what you are supposed
to do with that.”
Relief Pitcher Kyle Touchatt
On the excitement of a walk-off win:
“I was yelling the dugout saying, ?This is what we play for fellas.' It
was just a great atmosphere, nothing better than 6,000 fans yelling for
us to win the game. It is just a great feeling.”