Cal Beats Texas State, 4-3 in Seven Innings
5/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -
The California Golden Bears beat the Texas State Bobcats 4-3 in the second elimination game of the 2016 NCAA Softball Tuscaloosa Regional in Rhoads Stadium Saturday night. The Bears return to action Sunday at 1:30 p.m. CT against the region's top seed, Alabama.
Cal went up early, scoring two in the top of the first inning before adding another pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. Texas State picked up runs in the second, third and sixth inning and had two on base and were threatening in the bottom of the seventh before a popup ended the game.
Nisa Ontiveros picked up her second win of the day for Cal, pushing her record to 18-7 on the season, while Randi Rupp took the loss for the Bobcats, finishing her season at 30-14.
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Ricci Woodard
“Today was a good day. I thought we came out, we competed against Alabama earlier today and then to come back tonight and beat a really good Texas State team for the second time. Nisa and her teammates did an outstanding job today and we look forward to tomorrow for the championship game.”
On the Alabama game
“We had our opportunities and we put pressure on Alabama earlier today, and unfortunately we didn’t come up with a key hit. If we had come up with a key hit, it might have been a different story, but you like being in that position and our hitters just have to be a little bit more relaxed and not try to do too much, but you know hit singles, not try to jack it out [and] just try to weed it and put the ball in play. I know tomorrow we’ll be ready to do that.”
On the pitching in this Regional
“This has been a really unique Regional as far as the low scores. They’re really like real softball games used to be a long time ago when I had Michelle Granger and those pitchers where the score was 1-0, 2-1. It really shows a lot of character from these kids, because they have to perform. One error’s going to make a difference in the game, so I’m really proud of their effort and how they’ve held their own. We look forward to tomorrow.”
No. 16 Nisa Ontiveros (RHP)
“Today was a very long day facing really good competition between the two teams and hoping we can come out tomorrow and perform.”
On down time between games
“We got some food. So, food is always good and we took a little break, went back to the hotel, washed everything off and kind of got in the mindset. We have another game. We’ve got to get to that game and take care of business on that and not worry about what happened in the last game.”
On pitching 14 innings
“I feel a little sore, a little tired, but I’ll go back to the hotel and lots of ice, and I’ll be ready for tomorrow.”
No. 15 Lindsay Rood (IF)
“Nisa said it. It was a long day, but in the end we gave all we got and came out on top.”
On playing Alabama earlier today
“Having the mind set of just getting a base hit and even if you don’t, the next time you’re in the same situation you learn from it and take advantage of the next situation.”
Texas State
Head Coach Ricci Woodard
“I couldn’t be more proud of the team I brought and the team that played today. As I told them, ‘today is kind of a pride day because anyone who has to play Alabama tomorrow is already behind the eight ball.’ I know that because of the Sun Belt Tournament. I couldn’t have been more proud of them continuing to battle for seven innings of this game. Again, I couldn’t be more proud of the team I brought here and the team I’m taking home. Randi Rupp is a workhorse and she wants the ball just as much as she stated yesterday.”
On Randi Rupp’s Performance Throughout Regional Play
“She throws some clutch pitches at the right times. She started to wear down, then we take her out and then we leave her in. She is tough. She’s as mentally good as I’ve ever seen her so that means the future is bright for us.”
On The Team’s Performance in the Second Game
“Actually, they came out on fire. They came right at us. They were obviously really aggressive and that was their game plan. We didn’t counteract as well with pitches to keep them off-balance and they capitalized on it. Once we got our feet underneath us, they had already capitalized on a couple of runs. But we battled back during that game, we didn’t just call it a day. I thought every kid in that dugout did a great job in trying to help us win that ballgame today.”
On Making a Statement for the Texas State program
“This year, let’s be happy to be here. Next year, let’s be happy to leave here. I think we are just starting to set the pace on where we are going to go and where we are headed. So, to put Texas State softball on the map, I couldn’t be more proud of this group of players and what they’ve done not just for our university, but our program also. I think the future is bright.”
