The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Postgame quotes: Rice vs. Rider
06.05.2010 | Baseball
June 5, 2010
Postgame Quotes: Game 3 of NCAA Baseball Austin Regional
Rice 19, Rider 1
Saturday, June 5 - UFCU Disch-Falk Field
RICE
Head Coach Wayne Graham
Opening statement: It was the kind of game that we needed. We can save everything that we can since we have not given up on the idea that we can still win this tournament. We proved today that we can hit it if we can reach it. On pulling P Taylor Wall: Once it got to 11 (runs) it was the target, that's about it. On Taylor Wall's pitching: Once he started hitting the split finger he was really good. He came in a little shaky but once that thing starting working it was lights out.
P Taylor Wall
On knowing he could be pulled: I just focus on wining the ball game and going out there and throwing strikes and giving our team a chance to win. I am ok not going that long if it gives me an opportunity to pitch again. On his assessment of his pitching: I just stayed on my back leg and found the strike zone. To get a big lead it is important to throw those strikes, not make your defense worried. I just let the defense play and the offense score.
On his confidence in pitching again: I have confidence and I just want an opportunity to pitch again. Hopefully Monday we will get to that point and I will be ready to go.
3B Anthony Rendon
On being frustrated after first at-bat: I was so frustrated that I didn't even throw my helmet on the ground. I just set it down and ran out to the field and took it out on my next four at bats. On Rice's offensive performance: We needed this tremendously. It is the crazy thing about this team - we can go from scoring zero to 19, and I guess that is both a good thing and a bad thing.
RIDER
Head Coach Barry Davis
Opening statement: Tough way to end the year. I thought compared to yesterday that it looked like we were a little overmatched. I thought that we competed better yesterday. Today I am not sure that we competed as much. I thought that we were ready to go. One of the things that got us here was starting pitching, and our starting pitcher did not get too deep into the ballgame. We threw six guys - five freshmen - so obviously I look at that as a plus for us. We threw five guys that are freshmen in an environment that going to help them down the road. What you notice of our team, regardless of the score, is we gave effort at the plate, made some diving catches, made some double plays. I thought that our kids battled from beginning to end. Certainly Rice gets a ton of credit. They have an outstanding program, great tradition and history much like Texas. We felt honored to be here. I thought that everybody has treated us great. It is still a positive situation for us, regardless of the score. I think that we have come a long way, broke the school record for wins, had a great end to a season, and got sent to one of the toughest Regionals in the country and had a chance to compete against some pretty good teams. Hopefully the experience will be something we can build on when we open up in January of next year.
On Rice LHP Taylor Wall: The fact that they were able to score a bunch gave Coach Grant the luxury of getting him out of there, so they can bring him back if they win tomorrow and get him into the next game. I think what hurt him a little bit is that they kept having long innings, and he kept falling behind a little bit, so we had opportunities there. He is a quality lefty, strike thrower, three-pitch guy with great mechanics and knows what he is doing. He is probably going to give you a good outing every time he goes out.
C Eric Woodrow
On the end of the season and the end of his collegiate career: It is definitely bittersweet, but you cannot be upset about making it to a Regional your senior year, especially with a team in our conference. It is not a given every year that we're going to make a Regional. Winning our conference tournament is our goal every year. Just coming here, even though the results do not show it, I think that we competed. This team has a lot of guys coming back, and I think that they will have a great opportunity to make some noise.
2B A.J. Albee
On the season: Overall, I thought that we had a good season. We broke the school's season wins record. It was a good chance to play against teams like this in this Regional. It is a great experience for all of our players, and I really cannot say enough about our seniors. They led us all year through practice and games. They are a great senior class, and it was a lot of fun playing with them.