June 2, 2007
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NCAA WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
May 31-June 6, 2007
ASA Hall of Fame Stadium
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Game 8: Baylor 7, Texas A&M 4
General comment:
"That was a classic Baylor-Texas A&M matchup. There are not usually a whole lot of runs scored - it is kind of ironic that we get to the World Series and put up that kind of offense both ways. We never thought once that they would quit after we put up six runs. I don't think they thought we would quit after (Megan) Gibson hit her home run. It was an exciting game, a lot of great defensive plays, robbed home runs and some great pitches thrown. It was an exciting game to be a part of as a coach and I'm sure to watch as a fan."
On Courtney Oberg's three-run home run that put Baylor up 6-1:
"I felt pretty good. I pretty much knew it was gone when it left the bat. It was a great swing on a great pitch and I guess left up a little bit and she took advantage of it. This team came to play. They have always responded when we have had a disappointing loss. The polls have not always reflected the caliber of our team we have here but we're capable of doing some damage from here on out in the World Series. I think that we now have our first game jitters out of the way and I expect big things out of this team and hopefully you will get to see that."
BAYLOR FRESHMAN DESIGNATED PLAYER Courtney Oberg
On playing Texas A&M in the WCWS:
"When I came to Baylor and we all came to Baylor we came out with a mentality that its time and we're all going to get here (to the College World Series). There was never a doubt in our minds. We were going to do everything we could to get here and we're here and we're very happy. We are going to go for everything we can."
BAYLOR SENIOR CATCHER CHELSI LAKE
On the first inning:
"Ashley (Monceaux) opens up with a base hit and Brette (Reagan) got on base. That has been our mentality all year, to go out there and really attack the team. Especially at this level, the College World Series, you really have to send a message that first inning. It was so exciting. We fought hard all up and down the lineup throughout the whole game. So it was a very, very exciting day. Great to put up a great offense for Lisa's (Ferguson) performance. She pitched great again and we're very excited."
BAYLOR SENIOR PITCHER LISA FERGUSON
On her pitching effort:
"I knew it was a big game, playing Texas A&M, it being senior year and having beaten them already twice this year. I was real excited to come out and be able to have the ball again. I knew that our offense was going to fight and fight. We have seen (Texas A&M pitcher Amanda) Scarborough already twice this year and she came out firing and I knew we were going to have good game. My job was just to get the outs, whether it be strikeout, groundout or pop out. In the seventh inning I was like, `Okay, this is it. We have a two-run lead and the defense is behind me making plays like they have the whole game.'"
On her catch to rob Macie Morrow of a home run in the second inning:
"Well, I have some teammates making fun of me saying it was not very graceful, which it wasn't, but everyone did a great job of talking to me and telling me I had room. But I still inched up on that fence. It was hit straight up and I did not think it was going over. Next thing you know I felt the fence. Fergie (Lisa Ferguson) is giving all she can in the circle and it's either go big and go all out or go home and we weren't going home. This team has done a great job of responding, and we're all picking each other up and that is what I wanted to do. (Ferguson) has gotten us here and we're going to continue to play defense behind her."
TEXAS A&M HEAD COACH JO EVANS
Opening comment:
"I thought our team came out and really fought hard. These games are hard to lose when your season has ended. Baylor came out and was aggressive. The thing I thought they did really well early on was staying off Amanda's (Scarborough) drop ball. They had really good discipline at the plate early on. They made Amanda come up in the strike zone to them. I thought their hitters really set the tone with their discipline. Megan (Gibson) did a great job getting up in the first inning for us and hitting a long ball. I thought she really saw the ball well today. We had the one inning where we let it get away from us and gave up four runs. That was really uncharacteristic for us. I love our fight and the way our kids came back. I think we have a lot of confidence in our ability and our hitters got up expecting to get hits and to be aggressive.
"It was one of those games where I felt like we ran out of time. Our kids were really fired up and playing as hard as we could play. This game was a tough one to swallow. Congratulations to Baylor on a fantastic season. They did a nice job."
On what she thought was the turning point in the game:
"Looking back, you can say the turning point was giving up the four runs (in the third inning). At the time it didn't feel like that was going to be the end of the game for us. Looking back, we make an error and we walk somebody and we give up a home run. I am the eternal optimist for our team. When they got those runs I felt we had a lot of innings left in the game and I thought everyone was getting a good look. I felt like we were going to come back, and it thought you could see that in our team. We were really forward thinking and in the game. I thought we got Baylor back on their heels a little bit. It was tough when they scored the run in the bottom of the sixth, when they got that third run. That made it tough on us going into the seventh, and I would say that would be a turning point."
TEXAS A&M JUNIOR PITCHER AMANDA SCARBOROUGH
On her pitching performance and facing Baylor for the third time this season:
"We have faced each other a lot of times, and at this point they know the majority of the time my pitches are inside. It seemed they were really keying on that. My low screw ball, the umpire wouldn't call a strike, so I didn't work with that very well. I got to the point where I am my own worst enemy and I don't trust myself. For example, I made the error hitting the next batter. I am my own worst enemy when I am out there and I can hurt myself more than the other teams actually can."
TEXAS A&M JUNIOR FIRST BASEMAN/PITCHER MEGAN GIBSON
On how the experience of playing in the WCWS will help next year:
"I feel like every year is a learning year for you, yourself. From your freshman year on you learn every year and you mature. I think that is what our class and the senior class and everyone on our team are doing right now. This is just a step and next year is another step."
