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May 23, 2002
May 23, 2002
2002 ACC Baseball Tournament
Thursday, May 23, 2002-NC State vs. Virginia
NC State head coach Elliott Avent:
“Last night it was not disappointment that I had in my team, becausethey fought. They really tried hard, but we made more mistakes throughthe course of the ball game than I have ever seen in my life. Today,the game came down to one thing, heart and character and not wanting togo home. I am really proud they battled with a lot of heart andcharacter today, and we live to see another day.”
(On the squeeze bunt) “Yes, it really did. I think the squeeze is agreat play, they handle the bat well, we just played them three times atour place and everyone on the team has the ability to bunt. I think DanStreet is one of the hardest hitters in the ACC right now and probablyone of the better hitters in the ACC, but in a situation like that it isa great tribute to Ryan Combs because is comes down to heart andcharacter and how bad you want to make a play and he wanted to make thatplay awfully bad.”
Virginia head coach Dennis Womack:
“It was a really an outstanding college baseball game. There were not alot of errors made on a day when it is elimination time, which is notalways the easiest day to play. I thought both teams were also verymotivated, played hard all day both sides. As always, a game of inchesand you have to give it to North Carolina State, their pitcher probablymade the defensive play of the day, great bunt, great everything, greatplay by their pitcher. Of course, Brian Wright pretty well knows whatto do when you throw him a hanging breaking pitch, and we did and haveto give him credit for hitting that baseball out. Give credit to ourkids for playing hard all day, Dan hit a triple and a homerun, he hasbeen a major factor for four years for us and it’s going to be hard toreplace him.”
(On the bunt) “I think we executed very, very well. He made an all out… percentage wise, how many times is he going to make that play. Ithink it was the right play, the right call, the right everything.Great bunt, great play, you have to take your hat off to Ryan Combs.That is a do or die, game over situation. I really thought that was theright play.”