ARIZONA HEAD COACH MIKE CANDREA
"I think that you have to give credit where credit is due and I think
that Courtney Blades threw one hell of a ball game. We are a good
hitting team but tonight I think that she had our number. We made some
uncharacteristic mistakes in the first inning. We aren't going to sit
around and cry about it, we are going to try and regroup. I told the
girls that we need to put this behind us. I am not going to sit around
and overanalyze this game."
SENIOR SECOND BASEMAN KATIE SWAN
"They had a great game. Courtney (Blades) pitched a great game and she
kept us off balance. They also got some great hits when they needed
them. Their hitter got a nice line drive and they just clutched up, but
we are far from over. Usually a good hit will come off of a mistake
made by the pitcher, but Courtney didn't make many mistakes tonight."
JUNIOR PITCHER BECKY LEMKE
On her team's inability to score:
"Of course it is a little frustrating, but there have been games this
season where we have done this. I know that it is just a matter of time
before we come back. In the Cal game this season we didn't score until
the sixth inning. I always have faith that my team is going to come
back and do it, because this team is good."
SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI HEAD COACH LU HARRIS
"That was an awesome game, a top-notch Division I softball game. I
can't say enough about the gutsy performance of Courtney Blades. She
was amazing with her pitches and Erin Johnson stepping up and getting a
double. Oklahoma is an awesome team and we've seen them before. It
should be a great game."
On Blades' records:
She just keeps getting better and better. I am
seeing a lot of confidence and poise. I'm just very, very proud of
her. It is a total testament to Courtney's hard work and dedication and
her desire to get it done. She is an awesome pitcher and she deserves
what she is getting."
SENIOR PITCHER COURTNEY BLADES:
On her performance:
I think I threw real well with my change-up and kept
them off balance. We played them earlier in the year and I didn't have
it at that point. I think it was a key pitch tonight and I think our
defense did a great job behind me."
On whether she realized she was throwing a perfect game:
"It is hard
not to realize when there is a huge score board out there telling you
that you haven't given up any hits. It was going through my mind the
whole time. It is not really a big deal, though. You just go out there
and make your pitches break and hope they don't get a hold of one."
On setting records:
The perfect game didn't set in until Channika
(Gant) threw the girl out at first. The win record wasn't even in my
mind until someone told me after the game I broke another record. It is
not really a big deal. I am just focusing on what I want to do."
