UC Irvine

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Head Coach Dave Serrano

Playing on Wichita State's turf

“It's a good surface and I'm hoping that the way we play the game is conducive to the carpet helping us a little bit. Our infielders, the ball is going to get on them a little quicker, but it's going to stay a truer hop. The way we took some groundballs today, I'm pleased with how we are going into this.”

On the mental aspect of his team

“It's a pretty even keeled group. They're having fun out here, not that we are disrespecting the fact of where we're at. We know where we're at, they are intelligent enough. We are just going to go out and do what we do. We know that there are going to be a lot of Shocker fans up here that are going to be against us. All we know is that there are 25 players and a coaching staff in that dugout that are pulling on the same rope together. We know the odds are stacked against us because of the crowd, but hopefully we can show that UCI is here to stay.”

On the label of “West Coast/Small-Ball Baseball

“ It doesn't irritate me. I think it's a description of the good teams that you see in the Regionals and you see nationally, play that way. So I don't think it's a label you see only on the West Coast. Wichita State's not a West Coast team and they'll play that style too and they've been good for years and years. I think it's a style that you need to play in college baseball to be successful and win those big games like we're playing now.”

Keys to winning the Super Regional

“The three things I say from day one as a baseball team: Throw strikes. Put the ball in play. And play catch. A lot of people try to make the game bigger than that, but if you do those three things each and every day, you are giving your team a chance to win every single day.”

Sophomore Pitcher Scott Gorgen

On playing small ball

“Getting runners in scoring position. We try to play per inning and we try to win each inning. If we can put a zero up on the defensive side of the ball and put up a run, we win that inning and we win nine innings. That's all we play. We play nine individual games.”

On Wichita State

“What I know about them is that they are very similar to our team. They can play small ball. They like to get after it. They have a lot of lefty hitters. That's basically all I know. You slowly get into it as the weekend goes on and hopefully we can take it to them early and just play our game.”?

Senior Infielder Cody Cipriano?

On improving throughout career

“I've improved everywhere. Overall knowledge,. Coming out of high school, you get all of this information thrown at you and it's a little overwhelming, but after a couple years, a couple hundred at bats, you pick up a thing here and there.”

On improved offense

“Last year playing every day and getting four or five at bats a game helped. You never know how valuable experience is until you get it. I think that was a huge part of it.”

This season's expectations

“These were our expectations. In years past, we were always kind of hoping and wishing. This year we expect. We didn't just expect to go to a regional, but to go to a regional and win. We expect to go to a Super Regional and win. Expect to go to Omaha. That's the kind of mentality and mind thought you have to have to be a successful baseball player and have a successful baseball team.”