OKLAHOMA HEAD COACH PATTY GASSO
I think we spoiled some Memorial Day picnic plans. We just came out
and went after this hard. We knew it was going to be a battle. I
thought Jennifer Stewart was absolutely outstanding. Lisa Carey looked
for a pitch, was very aggressive and hit the ball hard. Defense was
outstanding. I felt like we were in the right places at the right
time. We kept our composure like we have all year long.
SOPHOMORE PITCHER JENNIFER STEWART
On her pitching performance: My off-speed pitch was on command today.
I think that is what kept them on their toes and off balance. I think
that made them pop up and ground out. The key was staying relaxed and
not getting ahead of myself.
On tomorrow's championship game: I am excited; this is every softball
player's dream. Being from Oklahoma I would come and watch the games
and dream of this moment. It is something that I would give anything in
the world for. Just to be in the championship game is unbelievable.
Knowing you have every chance in the world to win is even better. I can
not wait, I am so excited.
JUNIOR INFIELDER LISA CAREY
On her game-winning home run: The pitch was a rise ball. I was looking
for anything in my zone. I was looking for my pitch. If the pitch was
in my zone I was going to drive it and it was, so I just swung hard. It
was a great team effort and Jennifer Stewart threw well. Our defense
was tremendous and we need to keep it up for tomorrow.
ARIZONA HEAD COACH MIKE CANDREA
Trying to put a closure to a year is probably the toughest thing to do.
I'm very proud of the girls. They fought very hard and they don't have
anything to be ashamed of. Today was just one of those days where we
couldn't get a run across the board. The one mistake we make ended up
hurting us just a little bit but that's part of the ball game and
anytime you put on a uniform that can happen. This team will rebound and
be back. With every experience you have at the College World Series you
are going to learn from it. I can't think of a better place to be right
now than here. I'm not going to get too down but it does hurt. I have
had the opportunity to be on the other side of the coin and you just
realize that the more you get here how tough it is to get to that
championship game and to win it.
We graduate three seniors but the rest of this ball club will be back
and we'll use this as a launching pad to try to go through the process
again and try get back here next year and do a little better.
On hitting: When you get to the College World Series the pitching steps
up and you're not going to get 10, 11 or 12 hits a game. We had some
opportunities today but we were just one key hit away. That one key hit
can really open up the doors and many more (hits) can follow from that.
You noticed when (Lisa) Carey hit the ball out the player following her
got a base hit and that feeds confidence to the team. We were just a
little bit short on that (confidence). We need to get better at big
games. That's what the World Series is all about and we will.
JUNIOR PITCHER BECKY LEMKE
On Lisa Carey's home run: Her first at-bat I went inside with a rise
ball. I tried it again but she hit some foul before really adjusting.
She hit it good.
SENIOR INFIELDER KATIE SWAN
On the season being over: It's terrible. I feel awful. We just
couldn't get that run to come through to home. We had runners at second
and third all day long. We just couldn't cross the plate. We couldn't
get a clutch hit or couldn't get a sacrifice fly. We just couldn't get a
run on the board. It's not like they pounded the ball. They only got
four hits and two were in a row. They just happened to get one out. The
double was the only other ball that was a threat of them scoring again.
She hit it solid and it went out. There were a lot of girls on our team,
including myself, who hit one to right field that could have went out.
If I had not dropped my hands it could have went out. There were other
girls that were right on the ball but couldn't get that key hit.
