The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
06.01.2014 | Baseball
Quotes from head coach Augie Garrido
Head coach Augie Garrido
On tonight's exciting victory: The overview I have is obviously a very competitive, hard fought, college baseball game. Must have been really exciting for both sides of fans. It wasn't necessarily a game of perfection, but the college game isn't that. It is a game of imperfection, and the team that overcomes their mistakes and the adversity that comes with baseball is sometimes the winner. I think that's what happened for us tonight. But, it could have easily gone the other way. A play I would like to mention that may easily go unnoticed … the significance in hindsight was Collin Shaw's throw from right field to third base. That was really significant. It was a really hard fought game, very competitive. Either team could have won that game.
On if he felt like the game was going to be another 25 inning game like in 2009: I didn't have that feeling, I thought both teams were on the edge of being able to score. John [Curtiss] did a really great job with his relief role, but their pitchers were very effective as well. But, I didn't get that feeling. Of course, I didn't have it in the Boston [College] game either.
On if he knew his team was capable of a performance like this: I have had the feeling the last couple of weeks, and I think that they would agree with me, that they have taken the kind of responsibility, and are accountable to each other for the motivation and the inspiration. They are passing it on to each other. It is not coming from the coaches, we are not having these pep talks in between innings about, let's go, let's go, let's go, you know, fire them up. They are doing it for themselves, and that is when it really matters. It starts to really get contagious because they are feeling it with each other. I think that started about three weeks ago, and has continued to be driving the team to different levels.
On why there were so many more fly balls hit over the last few innings: I don't know if that is a strategy as much as it is that the pitchers were doing a very good job on both sides of keeping people off balance. The fly ball comes from a lot of all that, when [the hitter] drops the back side and gets under the ball out front a little bit. It is about timing and rhythm … it's rhythm and timing, I think it is more about that. The more tension there is in the game, the more rhythm you lose, and your timing gets worse. But, I thought the pitchers on both sides were really good.
On the significance of this win, especially not having Dillon Peters anymore: Staying in the winner's bracket is such an advantage, but it doesn't clinch the deal. When we look around the country when this all settles down, there will be one or two teams that come out of the loser's bracket and makes it to the super regionals. So, it's not over, that was the little meeting I had with the players before we came up here before they went to the bus. This was a hard fought effort. The last two nights the players have really banded together and really performed, but it is not over.
Sophomore pitcher John Curtiss
On his four perfect innings to end the game: Well really it was the defense if you think about, C.J [Hinojosa] made a great play, outfielders made great reads, Tres [Barrera] and [pitching coach] Skip [Johnson] were calling great pitches. And, we are not in that position unless Parker French comes out and has a dominant start, it really set the tone for the night. Duke came in, that pitch at the knees could have gone either way. Then, Morgan got the third out. So, I think all four of the pitchers really did their job and Skip and the defense were equally as important.
On having good command of his curve ball tonight: Anytime you have command of your secondary pitches it allows your fastball to appear like it has more life. I just really credit Skip for helping me work on it, Tres for framing it up, and the umpire for calling it.
On why he was so dominant today: Skip just talked to me about executing pitches and I executed pitches tonight so I had success.
Junior second baseman Brooks Marlow
On if the victory has soaked in yet: Yes, a little bit. Just soaking this in with the guys, the way we are going about it is if you lose you go home. There is no next week. That is the mentality we are taking into the next game.
On how exciting it is to pull out a win like this: It is so much fun, the even better news is we get to sleep in. I look at it like that. These two teams play great baseball, and to come out with a win in this one just shows how much fight we have in our stomachs with everything we went through.
On his game winning hit: I was looking for a ball middle in, and the first pitch he threw at me was a little inside and I took it for a ball. Then, with a runner on second with no outs I am always trying to hit something to the right side or elevate something to the right side. I was just looking for that one pitch. I thought he was going to throw a curve ball, but he didn't and I just got a good piece of it and scored the run.
On the intensity in the game tonight: That's just two competitive teams playing baseball, that is what the game is all about. There is no right or wrong with each team. There is going to be a winner and there is going to be a loser. So, both teams just battled it out and we came out a winner.
On finishing the job tomorrow: I think what we are going to do tomorrow is just come out and compete against the baseball like we do every game. Like I said earlier, there is going to be a winner and there is going to be a loser. We want to come out and get that one [tomorrow], but if it [doesn't happen] we will be ready to go the next day. So, we will just see what happens tomorrow night.
Senior center fielder Mark Payton
On if the noise from an opposing crowd takes the team to another level: We like playing on the road in hostile environments. We have played in some really hostile environments this year and we really fed off of the energy from the fans, other teams, whatever we can find. Any little thing we can do to spark something. I think it is really something we take pride in.
On how special this win was: It was a hard fought game. Obviously they are a great ball club and they have been for many years. They have a lot of tradition just like us. So, it is always going to be a tight game. We played them three games earlier in the year and they were tight games just as well. We know they are going to come out and battle us, give us everything they have got. We have just got to go out, play our game, grind games out, and find different ways to win.
On how nice it is to be able to sleep in tomorrow: It is definitely nice. Obviously, we do get to sleep in and hydrate our bodies a little bit more. Also, we just have to play one game tomorrow, which is also really nice. Having to play a late game and then having to try and play a double header the next day [would be rough]. You definitely have to rest and come well prepared for tomorrow's game because it is going to be a hard fought battle just like tonight's was.
