University of North Carolina Athletics
NCAA Chapel Hill Regional Game Two Quotes
June 1, 2013 | Baseball
Game 2: North Carolina 6, Canisius 3
North Carolina Head Coach Mike Fox
Opening Statement
"It was a tough, hard-fought game for us. Give credit to Canisius, they gave us all we could handle and we just grinded out a win."
On tonight's play:
"I don't think we played not-to-lose tonight, I think you
have to give [Canisius] credit certainly making plays. I was really impressed
with their team. I wasn't in here but I'm sure what they're saying about
leaving the bases loaded. We didn't have any clean innings and that really puts
a lot of pressure on you. Benton [Moss] finally had a 1-2-3 inning and that
lets you get in the dugout and take a deep breath. I was really impressed with
[Garrett] Cortright, we really made him work the first two or three innings and
I thought we would have him out of the game maybe earlier. But he just stayed
with it and sailed through to give them a good outing. They're a good team."
Junior LF Brian Holberton
On being the No. 1
seed and getting the first game done:
"It was definitely important to come out and get the win. I
think our team was a little nervous, maybe not so much nervous I guess but just
nerves and jittery. You could feel it in the dugout. Once we got a few runs and
settled down a little bit later in the game, I think we'll be fine from here on
out."
Senior CF Chaz Frank
On runners left on
base:
"There was a little frustration when we got runners on base
but at the same time it was a good thing we were getting runners on base. We
were making aggressive plays trying to score runs and they were just making
really good throws to the plate."
On feeling pressure:
"I think you always do, late in the game you feel pressure.
Trent being the pressure-player, he delivered for us. We had bases loaded with
one out and he gave us two big strikeouts. We're the No. 1 team and we're the
No. 1 seed and have the Tar Heel on our back. Everyone's going to give us their
best shot. That comes with a little pressure with that. This team has been
strong all year and we stepped up to the challenge."
Freshman P Trent Thornton
On the 8th inning
"Coming in in relief, you don't really want the bases
loaded. But I guess it was good to slow the inning down with the bases loaded
to get those two strikeouts to get out of the inning and get the offense going.
I was speeding the game up [at the point], but that's not really what you want
that late in the game so I just had to take a deep breath off the mound,
collect yourself and go after it."
On finishing the top
of 8th inning which started the run in the bottom
"It was a big pitch to get us back in the dugout so we could
start swinging bats. It was just good to get off the field and still have the
lead."
Canisius Head Coach Mike McRae
Opening Statement
"I thought it was a heck of a ball game tonight. I thought
our guys showed up, they played their hearts out. A pitch here, and a bat
there, a play there, a call there, and maybe we're talking about a different
ball game."
On the confidence of his team:
"I don't know if it was confidence so much as the energy was
good. Our energy level with this team, they're a veteran team, they've been
through some ups and downs - that part of it wasn't going to bother them. I just
ran out of innings."
P Garrett Cortright
On his performance:
"I just was able to locate a couple of my pitches. My curve
ball wasn't working for me tonight, but I was able to come out with a spitter
and locate a fastball enough to get outs. The defense made great plays behind
me and got outs."
On importance of
pitching:
"We knew coming in that pitching was going to be a big
thing. North Carolina has a stacked lineup that 90% of them hit above .300. I
knew I had to compete out there in order for us to build a ball game. Just came
out on the short end a little bit."
RF Ryan Coppinger
On team's confidence:
"I definitely think confidence built as the game went on. I
thought in the eighth inning our confidence was really high in terms of getting
bases loaded with one out. Unfortunately, we just weren't able to punch one
through there."
