Post-Game Quotes
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June 4, 2016
Recap | Final Stats | Notes
Post-Game Quotes
2016 NCAA CHARLOTTESVILLE BASEBALL REGIONAL
Davenport Field – Charlottesville, Va.
2016 NCAA Division I Baseball Regional – Game 4
June 4, 2016 – 4 p.m.
Virginia (38-21) vs. East Carolina (36-21- 1)
University of Virginia Quotes
Virginia Coach Brian O’Connor
Opening Statement:
“It certainly is as difficult as any loss we have had in the NCAA Tournament, really. Certainly challenging to be up by three runs – I thought we played so well. I thought our offensive approach was really really good. Obviously,Pavin had a big day, but we just did not have quite enough to finish them off at the end. Doyle did a tremendous job in the eighth and they took some aggressive swings against him in the ninth, and certainly deserved to win – congratulations to East Carolina because they took the game and won it, and did a terrific job.”
On coming out unscathed most of the game when East Carolina had runners in scoring position:
“I thought the whole game Connor was pitching with runners on and runners in scoring position. I felt like we were really fortunate to only have given up three runs, quite frankly, going into the ninth inning, because they did a nice job against Connor. Certainly, he gave some free passes. It could have been a lot worse. We were fortunate to be in the situation that we were with a chance to win the game in the ninth inning.”
On his decision to leave Tommy Doyle in the game:
“Tommy Doyle has been our closer since the middle part of the ACC season, so we were not getting anyone else loose out there. It was his ball game.”
Connor Jones
On East Carolina’s approach at the plate:
“Obviously, it was a tough game all around on both sides today through all nine innings. They battled. I thought it could have been a lot worse from my side. I thought we were able to get out of situations that we typically do not get out of, but unfortunately enough for us, we were, and it kept us in the game for a good portion in there, but credit to them, they played great today.”
On the team’s mindset following the loss:
“It hurts. Guys are ticked off, but at the same time, this regional is far from over. We have all the confidence in the world in our team and everyone in that clubhouse knows that we can win this thing and knos that we have the right pieces in place to go ahead and win these next three games and get back there.”
On his confidence level regarding the remaining games:
“I am always confident in our team that we are going to win, no matter if we are down by five or up by five in the ninth inning.”
On East Carolina’s infield hits leading to runs:
“It’s always frustrating when the pitcher thinks that they have made a good pitch and they did, and sometimes that is baseball and you have got to live with situations like that.”
East Carolina University Quotes
East Carolina Coach Cliff Godwin
Opening Statement:
“I don’t even know what to say. Our guys fought their butts off the whole game. We were going against one of the best pitchers in the game, Connor Jones, the (potential) first rounder. We faced tough at-bats after tough at-bats and did not break through early. Jimmy gave us all he had. He didn’t have his best stuff, but he competed. Matt Bridges kept us in the game. Sam Lanier did his job, and we got Joe Ingle back today, so that is a good thing. What can I say about that ninth inning? Guys put tough bats together and Travis came up with a three-run walk-off home run. It couldn’t have happened to a better kid, a better person, or a harder worker. I’m very happy for East Carolina University for today’s win.”
On balancing the emotional high and playing tomorrow:
“We just have to keep doing what we’re doing. I think we have played for two days with a lot of emotion, heart, and toughness. Even when we were down 6-3 today, I grabbed those guys in the eighth inning and said, we’re not going to fold now. We have been in the fight too long, and we need to keep fighting.’ Tremendous effort by those guys to continue to win pitches offensively, defensively, and Joe to give us a shot on the mound to win.”
On playing Connor Jones twice and having success:
“I hope I don’t have to see that guy again. I think our guys get up for him because we have three or four guys who are from Richmond and know him. I think Virginia has been the team. I mean they’re defending national champions. I think our guys want to get there. We want to take East Carolina’s program to where Virginia is. I think there is a little bit of a chip on our shoulder, but we are lucky because we had tough at-bats. Even though we didn’t score a lot of runs against him, we were able to battle. The at-bat that Luke Bolka had against him was unbelievable. I don’t know how many pitches, but the 3-2 count, and he just missed a grand-slam.”
Joe Ingle
On bouncing back and being the winning pitcher in the end:
“I don’t think it’s myself who is proud, but I am proud of coach [Dan] Roszel and the work he put in with me this week. On Tuesday I had to work with coach Roszel after I spoke with you all, and he really changed my mechanics and had me get my weight back and get my fastball down in the zone. This really helped today. My curveball also accompanied my fastball. I can’t say enough about these guys. Jimmy Boyd did a great job. Coach Godwin always stays on us and focuses us on family. Travis Watkins is insane, and this was a crazy win.”
Travis Watkins
On the long fly out in the fifth inning and what changed to succeed in the end:
“The long fly out early in the game was a slider, and I was out in front a little bit, but we were one hit away the whole game. We really needed that one hit to spark us. Our guys did an awesome job of getting on base tonight. We had pressure on and guys on almost every inning, and that’s tough and that wears guys down. Like I said, I couldn’t be happier for these guys and it worked out for us in the end.”
On the celebration after walk-off home run:
“I mean that’s what you dream about growing up. People come to East Carolina for moments like these and like I said, it wasn’t only that hit. We had a lot of hits prior to that home run. We had guys on base, we scored – and chipped and chipped and chipped. I was fortunate enough in that last inning to get a hit.”
On approach against Tommy Doyle:
“Our approach was just to see it up. I saw a slider away, took it, and he made me look pretty bad on that. I tried to focus on seeing it up, and I think I got a fastball in the heart of the plate and I got the barrel to it. That’s all I was trying to do. I wasn’t trying to hit a home run, I was just trying to give us a chance.”
Charlie Yorgen
On the fighting through not scoring early on:
“Like Travis [Watkins] said, we were one hit away the whole game. We did a great job of sticking to our approach throughout the game. Credit to Connor Jones who is an awesome pitcher. Their bullpen also did a great job. I think that getting pressure on them over time allowed us to have success in the ninth when we really had to. Throughout the game we had to stay positive and stick to our approach, and thankfully it worked out in the end.”
On the chance of moving onto next weekend with one more win:
“Right now it’s pretty surreal. I think I have blacked out for the past thirty minutes. We have worked all year for this moment, and it’s unbelievable that it’s here. We have to keep playing Pirate baseball. We have played great the past two games and we just need to focus on winning one pitch at a time. Tomorrow is no different even though there might be some added pressure.””