NCAA Softball Game 2 - Post Game Quotes
5/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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Alabama
HEAD COACH Patrick Murphy
Opening Statement:
"I thought Sydney (Littlejohn) did a really good job with two hitter and no walks. She was hitting her spots for the most part. We played really good defense. We attacked them on offense. I told the team I'd much rather have 15 hits and eight runs than two hits and no runs. I'll take the hits all day long. I think the longer we play the more we are going to get people going with the RBIs."
On the importance of getting the offense going: "We were able to practice Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week, so it was weird because we normally get two practices if we are lucky. The practices were about 70 percent offense and 30 defense. At this time of the year, it's more reps than anything. The most consistent hitter all week in practice was Danae (Hays). We ended each practice with a drill called pass it down. We have 12 hitters on the roster. The goal was to go 12 people hitting the ball hard. They didn't have to get a hit but just hit the ball hard. I don't care where it goes. Yesterday, at our pre-tournament practice, we did it for the first time. All 12 got a hit in a row. To get 15 hits in the first game is great and I thought both their (pitchers) were good."
#15 Danae Hays, SS, Sr.
On getting the offense going: "Even if some of our hitters didn't go away with a hit, they still hit the ball very hard like Kallie's (Case) RBI that scored Chaunsey (Bell) I believe. I think a lot of that was preparation at practice this week with the pass it down drill we've been doing. Even if you don't go away with a hit, you're still hitting it hard and we are being productive. We have to continue that tomorrow."
#28 Sydney Littlejohn, Pitcher, So.
On how she felt out there today: "Today was a great day for me. It's sunny, there's a big crowd at Rhoads Stadium, it's the start of postseason and the whole team was just fired up. As you can see, the defense was making amazing plays, Jadyn (Spencer) in right, Chandler (Dare) in left, everybody's diving everywhere and making some great plays. Just knowing you have that behind you and the offense to support it, it makes my job easy."
Fairfield
HEAD COACH JULIE BREZINSKI
Opening Statement:
"You know, I know we lost 8-0, but there was a small victory in there. We were trying to get to the sixth and seventh inning. We were one strike away from getting to the seventh inning, so I think the girls played excellent. They played with heart. I know the dirt was hard, and a lot of hops up the middle, and that was unfortunate on our part. Alabama is a great team and we are very happy of our effort that we had today."
Lauren Falkanger, Pitcher
On the experience of playing in the NCAA Tournament: "For me it was just something that I am never going to forget. Everyone has continually said, 'Oh the fans, the fans. You just don't know what these fans are like.' So, to see it firsthand, almost 2,000 people, like that's something else to play in front of that we are not used to at our home field."
On what it was like facing their lineup: "(They are) a little bigger, a little stronger. A little bit of everything. There were a lot of nerves the first inning, but I mean I kind of got past that after that. And it was just, 'Okay, get into this, get into a routine. Like figure it out. This is what the game is going to be like. Be focused on hitting spots as best you can and know that they are great hitters and they are probably going to get some great hits too.'"
Nicole Capra, Third Baseman
On the experience of playing in the NCAA Tournament: "I would just agree (with Lauren Falkanger) that is something our whole lives we've been watching on TV, and we've been fans of Alabama ourselves. It is an unbelievable experience to be able to get up there and just play softball with them. It was awesome."
On what is it like facing Sydney Littlejohn: "She had a lot more spin than people we have seen and, I mean just has the reputation. There is always that factor playing in it, but at the end of the day we are just here to play softball. We just had to get up to bat with a clear mind and zone in, so that is all we did."
