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June 5, 2006
Game #7 Post-Game Notes
SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina will advance to the Super Regional for the sixth time in the last seven years after today’s win. This is USC’s seventh consecutive NCAA Regional appearance and eighth under head coach Ray Tanner.With today’s win, South Carolina stands at 40-23 overall and 3-3 in games played in a neutral stadium. South Carolina improves to 83-47 (.640) in postseason play in its 22nd NCAA Tournament appearance.South Carolina is now 27-10 this season when scoring first.Tonight’s game was the third meeting between the two teams, with all three games coming in this Charlottesville regional. USC defeated Evansville 4-2 on Saturday after the Friday night game was rained out before losing to the Purple Aces on Sunday. Sophomore Wynn Pelzer pitched a complete game today, his second of his career (vs. Tennessee, 12 May ’06, L, 4-5)Justin Smoak played in his 62st game of the season tonight and after going 1-for-3 tonight he improved to 69-for-238 on the season and has 16 HR and 59 RBI. Both totals are USC freshman records. He is the only Carolina player to start in 60 games in 2006. Phil Disher has a seven game hitting streak after his performance tonight, which included his third consecutive game with a home run. In his last 11 starts, Disher has five homers, 2 doubles, and is 14-for-46 with 16 RBI. South Carolina will meet the winner of the Athens Regional. UGA and Florida State are playing in the Regional final on Monday night.
EVANSVILLE
Evansville is making its third NCAA Regional appearance and first under head coach Dave Schrage.With today’s loss, Evansville stands 43-22 overall and 10-6 at neutral sites.In its third trip to the NCAA regionals, Evansville now stands 5-6, including a 3-2 mark this spring. This is Evansville’s first trip to the regional final.Evansville’s 43 wins are the most since 2000 (41). The Purple Aces have eclipsed the 40-win mark five times in school history.Third baseman Kirk Bascu went two-for-three with four RBI against South Carolina.Senior RHP Kai Tuomi now stands 6-2 on the season. He has 36 strikeouts.
Game #7 Quotes
SOUTH CAROLINA
Ray Tanner, head coach
On today’s game:
“It would be an understatement to say that I’m extremely proud of our players for bouncing back from the shellacking yesterday to come back and win the Regional and move on to the Super Regional.”
On Starting Wynn Pelzer:
“We needed a guy like Wynn Pelzer out there tonight to get the win today. I thought he pitched very well today. We had to get what we could out of him today and he came out and did a super job.”
On Advancing to the Super Regional:
“It’s been noted that we haven’t been playing great down the stretch, but we’ve survived. In the words of Jim Valvano, you survive and advance and that’s what has happened. We’re not a great, great club, but we’re still playing and that’s what counts.”
“It’s great to be able to advance to the Super Regional. This was a very, very tough regional. I thought Virginia was one of the best teams in the country and Evansville was playing very, very well.”
Phil Disher, Designated Hitter
On His Regional Performance:
“I had no set expectations coming in. I just wanted to get some hits and help put some runs on the board to support our pitchers. I didn’t expect to hit three homeruns.
“I just try to keep the same attitude whether I’m swinging bad or swinging well. I have the same approach.”
On Being Named MVP of the Region:
“I’d say the odds were stacked against me coming in to win it, but it feels great. It’s a great accomplishment and I’m flattered to receive the recognition.”
Wynn Pelzer, Starting Pitcher
On His Complete Game:
“I planned on staying out there as long as I could. I just wanted to get it done for the team tonight. I’ve pitched a lot of innings this year, it was just another game tonight. I felt good from the start.”
“I was focused from the outset today and got the job done. The whole team did a great job and now we’re going to the Super Regionals.”
EVANSVILLE
Dave Schrage, head coach
On today’s game:
Congratulations to South Carolina. They did a great job in shutting us down today. They were definitely the better team. [Wynn] Pelzer was outstanding. Yesterday all the breaks went our way; today they did not. South Carolina made no errors and walked only one guy; everything we got today we had to earn it. Those are the breaks. Our guys gave it all they had, all the way to the final out.
On Wynn Pelzer, USC’s starting pitcher:
He was tremendous today. He did a great job of locating, and we had to earn all of our hits. He had Kasey Wahl baffled all night. Pelzer overpowered us in the first couple of innings, then added his slider and was locating that one perfectly. I respect him; we just got beat by a better kid tonight. He kept attacking us right from the start.
On the season and looking ahead:
We return our top six hitters and a couple of arms, and this was a great step for our program. Everyone thought it would be Virginia and South Carolina playing today, but we got here. The future of the program looks to be good.