University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina 7, Cornell 4 Quotes
June 1, 2012 | Baseball
June 1, 2012
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2012 NCAA Chapel Hill Regional
Friday, June 1, 2012
Game 2: North Carolina 7 - Cornell 4
North Carolina Head Coach Mike Fox
Opening Statement
"I think Cornell showed you what it's like playing in the NCAA Tournament after 30 years. The excitement, being here. I thought they played terrific. They'd probably like to have a couple walks, a couple ground balls back and that game is entirely different. I don't want to take anything away from our team because the first game in a regional is always that one you just have to work really hard to get the win and get past this one, but I really thought Cornell just played outstanding. They were excited to be here, and I'm not sure our team matched that. I think you have to be really careful about being in a regional and being at home and being complacent and just not locking in and bringing it."
On Colin Moran
"4 for 5 today, he had a third of our hits. He's an important part. Somebody asked me [about the team's performance during Moran's injury] and I said we won a lot of games with out him, so he's an important part of our offense, but we rely on a lot of guys. We needed him big time today. He was in the middle of about all of our scoring in one way, shape, or another. He's our best hitter, and we need him to get to where we want to go."
Junior Closer Michael Morin
On the team's lack of excitement
"They came out fired up, just like we should've. We knew we were going to get their best shot. I'll take that upon myself, or Jake [Stallings] for the hitters, but we'll be ready tomorrow. We can't complain, we won the game, but we'll be ready tomorrow."
On tying the school's single season save record
"It's not something I was thinking about out on the mound, but it was one of my goals at the beginning of the year and it always feels good to accomplish your goals."
Cornell Head Coach Bill Walkenbach
Opening Statement
"I was pleased with the effort our guys gave today. We hung with them offensively. I thought our pitchers did a good job keeping them off balance. If we make a few more plays, I think the game is a little closer and maybe we can get out in the end. They're a very disciplined team at the plate. They did a good job of working the count. They're a good pitching staff and to be able to play match up the way they do is just a huge advantage for them. They just did what they've done all year, and that's win ball games and win close games and use their pitching staff to their best advantage. But I was pleased with our team's effort and I expect our guys to come out tomorrow with the same kind of effort and give east Carolina a run."
On the rain delay:
"We came back and scored another run. I don't think it was bad for us offensively. We felt fine and looked good in the pen. We had no real concerns coming back from the delay."
Senior Center Fielder Brian Billigen
On Cornell's offense:
"I'm surprised we didn't get more runs. I think with 13 hits, we expect to score more. Their pitching staff came in with runners on base and were able to shut us down in certain situations. I'm happy with how everybody swung the bats. Nobody was afraid to get up there and swing and be aggressive."
On his home run:
"I was able to get into the hitting count. He got ahead of me in those first two at-bats. I was fighting, and I was able to get to 2-0 and saw a fastball. He left one up and in, so I got a nice swing on it. I was comfortable being in the hitter's count and I just got a good swing on it."
Senior Catcher Brandon Lee
On UNC's pitching:
"They did a good job with their match-ups. They came in and they did their jobs. The relief pitchers played defense and the defense played well behind them when they came in. They had guys with good off speed and it's tough sometimes to have those rallies end, but you have to come back and make adjustments the next day."
