University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heel Baseball Post-Game Quotes
February 14, 2001 | Baseball
Feb. 14, 2001
Q: Are you pleased with your performance today?
Daniel Moore: "I'm definitely pleased, with both my performance and our overall team performance today. We started off slowly the first two innings, but then we got eight runs over the next two innings.
"After that we just played solid defense. We kept hitting the ball hard, but the other team played good defense."
Q: Were you nervous at the start of the game?
Daniel Moore: "A little bit, but after that first pitch, it's time to go to work. That's the way I look at it, and that's what I did today."
Q: What was working for you out there?
Daniel Moore: "I didn't feel like I had good velocity on my fastball, but I was able to locate my curve ball and my change-up pretty well, so that helped a lot.
"My two off-speed pitches definitely helped me out today."
Q: How does it feel to get your first win in your first start?
Daniel Moore: "It's a big relief. Three other guys have come out and gotten wins this year, so I needed a quality start. It feels really good.
"The eight run cushion really helped me relax. As a pitcher, you just have to go out there and throw strikes with a lead like that."
Q: Please comment on Daniel's outing today.
Coach Fox: "He was a little shaky early, which is what you expect from a freshman. You just hope they get through that first inning and get over those nerves, take a deep breath. He was able to do that and settle in.
"I think Coach (Roger) Williams called a great game today. He mixed up, and we tested him some. We threw a couple of breaking balls when Daniel was down in the count, and he came through.
"I didn't realize he had that good a pick-off move (two in the first two innings). I think that gave him confidence early, he's worked hard on that.
"We call those pick-offs sometimes from the dugout, but it's the pitcher doing it. We work with all our lefties on pick-off moves. The new guys weren't that good at it in the fall, but they've improved."
Q: What about Ralph Robert's performance today?
Coach Fox "I'm tickled to see him come in and have some success, because he's wanted to come to North Carolina for a long time. He's worked hard to get here.
"He showed today what he can do to help us. When you have such a young team, you need some experienced guys to come in and get in the mix.
"His power is to right-center field. I was glad to see him come in and get a home run.
Q: How do you feel about your freshmen pitchers so far?
Coach Fox: "What you want to happen has happened. They've had some success, and we've won some games. When they get that first one under their belts, that's their most important one.
"Now there going to get that first one on the road. I think some of them got their confidence, but we're just taking it one day at a time.
"We're just trying to cherish every win that we get. I'm tickled for these young guys.
"We're going to be facing some really good teams on the road this weekend, so they're going to really get tested.
"I fully expect that when we step out there on Friday night against South Alabama, with their home crowd, they'll figure out real quick that this is a little different than cozy oshamer Stadium."
