NCAA Regional: Alabama vs. Lipscomb Postgame Quotes
5/23/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 23, 2010
Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery 
Alabama Quotes
Head Coach Patrick Murphy
Opening comment on advancing in NCAA action:
"Congrats to Lipscomb. She (LU coach Kristin Ryman) has done a heck of a job. They're a very good opponent. I knew Whitney (Kiihnl) was going to be good and she was as good as advertised. I talked to a coach in our league and said that she'd be one of the top-five pitchers in our league. They will be back in regionals for sure."
On if this game was approached differently:
"It was the same game plan at the plate which was to lay off the balls, which is easier said than done. I thought we did a good job of putting the ball in play."
On if the team is playing its best ball:
"Well, we haven't lost since like March 31. How do you complain about that? How do you find fault in that? I think if we just keep doing what we're doing, we've been playing really good defense and hopefully it's going to continue to improve."
Third Baseman Courtney Conley
On making more solid contact against Kiihnl today:
"Seeing her once really helped. We went out there and battled hard every time and were just missing it. It was good to get on top of that rise-ball."
Designated Player Amanda Locke
On her home run:
"I just went up there and was just trying to find my pitch. She has a great rise-ball and is a good pitcher. I was just trying to see a pitch down and hit it. It was a changeup."
Pitcher Kelsi Dunne
On if she felt she pitched better today:
"They have a great team and great hitters. I just went out there and battled for my team because today was the day we move on to next weekend. I knew my role today was to keep them out of scoring position and that's what I did. Our defense made some great plays and I knew they were behind me and we scored enough runs to come out with the win."
On wanting to win with emphasis:
"A win is a win. That's what we focused on. The shutout is nice to get. We played great today as a team and we got the shutout, but we won and that's what matters most."
Lipcsomb Quotes
Head Coach Kristin Ryman
Opening statement:
"Overall, I am extremely proud of our team with the fight and resiliency they have shown all weekend. They beat us with their short game yesterday and today they came out and relied on the long ball. That's the type of team they are. They can beat you in so many different ways. That's why they are at the top right now. I loved the way our girls kept fighting and battling, never giving in. Today just wasn't our day. Kelsi Dunne threw an extremely good game today against us."
On Alabama pitcher Kelsi Dunne:
"She's a great pitcher. As soon as she gets you guessing, you are just about done. That's what she did to us today. Yesterday when we saw her, we were guessing a little too much early in the game, but then we settled in and started taking our hacks and being aggressive. Today I thought we were taking our hacks and being aggressive, but we just were guessing a little bit more than we were yesterday."
On Whitney Kiihnl's performance this season:
"We have put a lot on her shoulders this season. She went through that in the conference tournament last year as a freshman. Not that she didn't expect that last year, but I think it was a little bit of an eye-opener as far as how many innings and how much she was going to be relied on in the postseason. This year, going into the conference tournament, I think she was a little more prepared mentally. She did a great job there and carried that over into the regionals. We have asked a ton of her this year. I don't think she will say today is one of her best performances, but what a gutsy job of sticking it out and giving her best even though she was extremely tired."
On the experience of playing in a regional:
"This is the closest any Lipscomb softball team has ever been, and I think that is in large part to our seniors and what they have done in leading this team. I don't think we ever came into this postseason wanting to just be happy being here. I think we came in wanting to win it. We knew that was going to be an extremely tough task, but that's what we were here for. These girls never stopped from an effort stand point and I couldn't be more proud of them."
Senior Pitcher Whitney Kiihnl
On hitting against Kelsi Dunne:
"She has a lot of pitches so you don't know what she is going to throw. You say 'don't swing at the rise-ball', but she throws it and you swing because it's hard to lay off."
On how she felt physically:
"I am pretty tired. Coach told me before the game to just push through and do the best I can because this could be the last game of the year. I wanted to push through for the six seniors so I tried not to think about how tired I was."
Senior Centerfielder Lauren Dortwegt
On hitting against Kelsi Dunne:
"You keep guessing yourself. She has the rise-ball, which everybody was struggling with. We had trouble guessing what she was going to throw next, but I think we adjusted a lot throughout the game."
On the experience of playing in a regional:
"It was one of the best experiences I have had in the past four years. We came here to make an impression and I definitely think we did that for our school. This has been quite a ride as a senior, and I don't think there is a better way to end my four years."
