University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina vs. James Madison Quotes
June 4, 2011 | Baseball
June 4, 2011
North Carolina Associate Head Coach: Scott Forbes
Opening Statement:
The big thing for me is I think James Madison has an unbelievable offense. I think
they have a great team and that's a big credit to [Patrick Johnson]. I thought right
out of the gate, he set the tone for us and pretty much was the story of the game.
On Johnson's success this season:
I've been around PJ a long time, so people probably say I'm crazy, but it doesn't
surprise me. I've never seen a kid come off of an injury and work like he had.
Everything he's getting is what he deserves. You know he's pitched well for us since
he's been [at Carolina] and he's pitched some really big games. But this year he's
done a really good job of leading us; being the leader of our pitching staff and that
legitimate Friday-night guy.
DH Greg Holt:
On his success hitting the ball against the Dukes:
I saw the ball pretty well today, obviously. I just tried to go out there and out a
good swing on it every time, not try to get ahead of myself.
On when he found out he would be in the starting lineup:
About 30 minutes before the game. I have been [batting DH] against left-handed
pitchers for the last month and a half now, so I kind of knew that I was going to be in the lineup.
On success hitting the ball over the past month, especially extra-base hits:
I think hitting home runs is just a case of putting a good swing on the ball. And I'm
just not trying to get ahead of myself. Today was a great day for me, but tomorrow
I've got to come out and do it again.
RHP Patrick Johnson:
On streak of 23 consecutive scoreless innings over his last three starts:
I had no idea it was up to 23. But I like to go out and out our team in a position to
win and that's what I've been trying to do throughout this streak. I think I've been
throwing more strikes. Earlier in the year, I had a lot of 3-2 counts and was walking
hitters. And I think I've had only one or two walks over these last three games. And
I think that's been the biggest key for me is throwing strikes and letting my defense
do the work.
James Madison University Head Coach: Spanky McFarland
Opening Statement:
This is a humbling game. We didn't do well in all phases, they did [do] well. The
combination kind of ran it up a little bit. At one point there we just decided to throw some young guys and save some pitching. When you get in the loser's bracket
you've got to win two games tomorrow and then one on Monday if you have a
chance. So we made that decision to throw some young guys and give them some
experience, some of them did well and some of them didn't. It got kind of ugly at the
end, but it was a good ball game for about five or six innings.
C Jake Lowery:
On mindset going into tomorrow needing to win two games to stay alive:
Yeah, hopefully we can play two games. Maine is a good team and hopefully we can
go out there and win the first one and not look past that game.
RF Johnny Bladel
On facing UNC starting
Yeah, hopefully we can play two games. Maine is a good team and hopefully we can
go out there and win the first one and not look past that game.
On facing Patrick Johnson:
The kid is good. He came at us with his fastball and he kept us off balance with his
slider. And he located [his pitches] well and when he needed to, he came inside,
which was really tough to hit.
On UNC breaking their win-streak, the longest in the country coming in: I didn't think it would end this badly. I thought we would compete a little more. ut when you've been playing that well and won so many games in a row, you're bound to come across a game when you just can't get it done.
