The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Game 3: #1 Texas vs. #1 Arizona State - Postgame Quotes
06.12.2011 | Baseball
June 12, 2011
TEXAS
Head Coach Augie Garrido
Opening statement: I'd like to start by congratulating Arizona State for some great baseball this weekend. I think all of the games were of a very high quality, hard fought, and really tested the makeup of all the players involved. We struggled through the first part of the game. The homerun was a surprise because I thought it was a fly out. We must have had seven or eight guys stuck on base until the rally and we let the umpire distract us a little bit and you really can't do that in this game. Tant (Shepherd) came back with two outs in the inning where we scored two runs after a disappointing at-bat from his point of view and got the double and then we kept the rally going with Mark (Payton)'s hit and then Brandon (Loy)'s double that scored the fourth run which was right out of the core of the leadership of this team. When you have leaders that step forward like that the other guys step up as well.
On Texas' pitching performance: The pitching staff was remarkable. Absolutely needs to be the cornerstone of the team and it is the cornerstone of the team. The match ups were really timely. I think Skip (Johnson) did a great job with all of that and how he managed to keep the rhythm of the hitters off balance with his match ups throughout the last two games.
On how the fans influenced the game: In this particular environment, I don't know if we would have held up if it weren't for our fans. I think our fans did more to win the game than any other time during the year. They motivated our players and stayed with our players and made it a special tenth man effort. I don't get emotional about that unless I'm really dead serious about it and I just want to thank them a lot.
Freshman RF Mark Payton
On his game leading hit with two outs: He (Arizona State pitcher Mitchell Lambson) is a good pitcher and really shut us down pretty much all game today. I was just looking for a pitch I could handle and I was lucky to have Tant to keep that inning going and maybe take away Lambson's confidence a little bit and just try to hit the ball hard somewhere.
Junior SS Brandon Loy
On making it back to Omaha for the College World Series: It was a tough deal last year. We had an unbelievable team and our goal is to always win a National Championship and that's why we don't have the big celebrations when we win a Super Regional. That's just not our style. We are out to win a National Championship and it's the first step, we have achieved our goals to win a Regional and a Super Regional, but our overall goal is right out in front of us. It's exciting for us and we are excited about the position we are in but we aren't satisfied.
ARIZONA STATE
Head Coach Tim Esmay
Opening statement: They played great baseball. This is a tough place to play in, and unfortunately we didn't come out on top. I wish all of the luck to the Longhorns, and hopefully they have a long run in the College World Series.
On the Texas bullpen: That's called pitching. I thought Texas did a great job, and pitched really well this weekend. Our ability to swing the bats, and get base hits with guys on base, was the nemesis of this weekend and you can say that's on us but I'd say it's also on them and their pitching staff, on match ups and bringing different arms in. It makes it tough on an offense when they continue to bring in different arms and different looks. That's a good thing to have in your bullpen.
On facing multiple pitchers in a game: It's tougher to get a philosophy, and then boom before you know it, there comes another arm. That's why Texas is going to the College World Series. They have that ability to change rhythms with offense.
Junior P Mitchell Lambson
On his called balk: I have no idea really. I was just pitching out there, and they made the calls.
Junior 3B Riccio Torrez
On calls changing the game: The umpires make the calls. Sometimes they make bad calls, but it's baseball, you just have to keep playing.