Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU vs. Houston Postgame Quotes
May 28, 2011 | Cowgirl Softball
May 28, 2011
Oklahoma State vs. Houston Post-Game Quotes
May 28, 2011 – Cowgirl Stadium – Stillwater, Okla.
OSU Head Coach Rich Wieligman
Opening statement
“I don't know what to say. It was a long day and I love our kids' fight. They stayed in the game. I told them yesterday, 'It could be a long day, but let's finish it.' They played hard. They stayed in it. They didn't get down. We got behind in that second game and they never lost their poise and never lost their focus. They just kept playing. We got those runs at the end of the game and Kat came in and closed the door. She did a great job.”
On the final game
“I like how we started the second game. Three runs in the first inning is huge. Julie hitting that double off the wall, I think that set the tone. That was something. It said 'OK' and we refocused and we got after them and I think that set the tone for the rest of that game.”
On what he told the players before the last game?
“I told them to just flush it. That game is over with and let's just flush it down the toilet and let's start over again. The big thing is that's what they did. It's easier said than done. Doubleheaders are tough. Especially when you lose the first one because momentum is on their side. I think the best thing we did is we came out there in the top of the first with three runs and pushed that momentum back in our favor.”
OSU pitcher Kat Espinosa
On if she had confidence against the Houston lineup
“I just tried to be mentally prepared for anything, basically. I was playing with everything I had and I trusted my defense behind me. We all did our job.”
On what she expected the WCWS to be like
“I expect it to be really tough, but really exciting and fun. We're all just out there to do what we want to do, what we're all here for. We all want to be at the World Series and we're finally here!”
OSU first baseman Julie Ward
On her double in the first inning of the last game
“I'm just trying to get hits. The way I see it is if it's not me then it's one of my teammates. I just tried to stay relaxed the whole time and not get all hyped up and not think about anything besides pitch-by-pitch.”
On what's going through their minds entering the WCWS
“Leave it all on the field. That's all we want to do. Just leave it all out there. We don't want to have anything to regret. We're probably the underdogs and we know that. We're just going to go play our hearts out because this is everything we've wanted our whole career. This is what we've wanted our whole lives. Just finish.”
OSU third baseman Mariah Gearhart
On if their experience at the regional helped them in the last game
“Definitely. It was almost the exact same situation, score-wise. They went up 4-3 and we came back and fought and made the score 6-4. That's just awesome right there and I literally felt like it did help us a lot. Especially because we were against their home crowd (at Tennessee) and this time we had our home crowd. We were already used to a tougher atmosphere so with that pressure, we've dealt with that before.”
On getting OSU national exposure
“It feels great. We always want to represent our university, and do it like this – you just couldn't ask for more. It was the best opportunity and that's what you feed off of is to be able to this for your teammates, for your coaches, for each other, for yourself and especially for this university. Now we have the Oklahoma State name on the board and now people are going to be able to see what we're about.”
OSU shortstop Chelsea Garcia
On if they were thinking about the WCWS before the game ended
“I think you can't help but think about it. Julie says a lot when she says, 'Act medium. Don't act too down or too high.' We're just trying to keep it calm and go after any ball and get every out before that last out.”
OSU left fielder Tamara Brown
On her double
“They had been beating me inside, inside, inside all day. So I told myself, 'You know what. I'm going to be on time and put a good swing on it and luckily it happened.”
Houston Head Coach Kyla Holas
Opening Statement
“I just want to say congratulations to Oklahoma State. I think that they are very well deserving. They worked very hard for their win today and I wish them a lot of success in the College World Series.”
On not having pitcher Amanda Crabtree
“I think anytime you don't have the strikeout leader in the country on the mound, you're going to have a tougher job than if you did.”
On coming close to the WCWS
“Anyone who has played sports and come so close to their dreams knows that this is very unsatisfying and this is something that this team will never forget.”
On going to a third game
“I think when you get to this point in the season and you go to an “if” game on a Saturday, you're going to see a lot of offense and pitching will have to go through a lot of runs. It's just the team that got the luckiest breaks and the timely hits should come out on top.”
Houston pitcher Donna Bourgeois
On how she felt entering the final game
“I've worked my entire life for this day. I think I had enough in the tank to get it done, but at the same time I trust my coach's decision and I trust every single one of my teammates. This is the place where I want to be. This is it.”
Houston second baseman Jennifer Klinkert
On her home run
“I was really just trying to do something for my team. I knew she was throwing drops so I was just trying to see a good pitch and put a bat on the ball.”
On not having another opportunity to hit
“I trusted my teammates and I knew that there were two people in front of me that could do the same job. We have a very tough lineup this year. If it came to my turn to hit then that was fine, but I trusted my teammates and I honestly thought that one of them would pull through that time.”
