University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC vs. UNC Wilmington Quotes
May 31, 2008 | Baseball
May 31, 2008
Recap |
Box Score |
Notes |
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North Carolina Head Coach Mike Fox
Opening Statement:
"You know it is a well-pitched game when you can take the box score and fold it in half. The game started for us just like we wanted and ended just about the same way. Obviously Alex started the game with three strikeouts, he set the tone and sent a great message to our team that he was ready. My hats off to Jeff Hatcher, I thought it was a great pitchers' duel. He pitched exceptionally well and fortunately we got some big swings of the bat. It went into our favor and that's why Alex is the ACC Pitcher of the Year. We have no problems giving him the ball in big games and it was a great win for us."
On White's performance:
"You saw Alex tonight and he is a big-time competitor. He is about as tough as they come. He has grown-up, which you see players do in any sport in college. I think they learn the pace of the game and you see it in every sport at this level. You know they're not going to come in as freshman and have success from beginning to end. Last year is over with and Alex is focusing on this year trying to do as well as he can. I mean you learn from failure and I think that's what he did last year."
Second baseman Kyle Seager
On White's performance:
"Well it definitely makes us more relaxed as a team. The way Alex was throwing today, we felt like if we got a couple runs we'd be ok and we wouldn't have to press as much."
On Jeff Hatcher's performance:
"He did a very good job, he threw in and out. He threw a lot of change ups and had a good little slider. He was tough and he really didn't make to many mistakes. He did a great job of keeping us off balance."
Starting pitcher Alex White
On being hit on the hand early in the game:
"It was just a one hopper that hit me in the forearm. It stung a little bit, but I kept pitching and it worked out."
On pitching his first complete game of his career:
"Obviously the key was to work deep into the game and that's what I wanted to do to start the game. My last couple of starts, against Virginia and at Miami, I kind have gotten off to a slow start and put our team in a hole. I wanted to work deep into the game and give us a chance to win."
UNC Wilmington Quotes
Head Coach Mark Scalf
"It was a heck of a baseball game. Two pitchers went after one another all night long. I thought Jeff pitched outstanding for us, but he had a couple of mistakes and Alex White was just that much better. It was a great college game. I mean, how many times do you see a college baseball game finish in two hours."On getting ready for the rest of the Regional
"Coaches can only say so much. At this time in the year, it's up to the players. They've got to prepare themselves the best way they can. We've got a lot of work to do tomorrow. We are going to have to come out and compete early in the first game in order to get the opportunity to play a second game. I think they'll do a great job of preparing our guys and encouraging them and making sure they're ready to go."
Pitcher Jeff Hatcher
On the importance of pitching a complete game
"In hindsight, now that the game is over and we did lose, we are going to need our pitchers to make a run at this thing. So, it's pretty important."
On a career-high 9 strikeouts
"The slider was working good today. With a line-up like that, you make mistakes and they'll make you pay for it. So, I was trying to keep the ball down and try to keep it away from them as much as possible and stay away from their strengths. It just worked out like that."
Third baseman Nate Hall
On his analysis of the Tar Heels
"They're a good team; they've got a great line-up. They play good baseball, but I feel we're just right there with them. We're not intimidated by them or anything like that."
