University of Massachusets Athletics
Post Game Quotes
May 20, 2007 | Softball
May 20, 2007
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2007 NCAA Amherst Regional
May 18-20, 2007
Amherst, Mass.
Game 6: No. 1 Oklahoma 6, No. 2 Massachusetts 3
Postgame Quotes
Candice Molinari on playing from behind
"We knew that we were going to have to score runs to beat them. It is never easy playing from behind."
Brandice Balshmiter on pitching while behind
"To know that your defense is behind you helps a lot. It is a big pick-me-up but sometimes you do have to come up with the big strike-outs to help them out. It does get frustrating when you get a bad hop, or we give up runs on errors, but I trust them. I love them whole-heartedly and there is no one I would rather have behind me."
Molinari on feeling after three run inning
"It definitely helped a lot because we knew we could score against them. When we were going into that last inning, the feeling on the bench was that we have scored runs against them and we know we can do it again."
Molinari on experience of four years as a Minutewoman
"Being a part of this team has been the time of my life. I did not want today to be the last day I wore this jersey, but we went down with a fight. If we were going to lose to anyone, at least it is Oklahoma. They are the best team out there, and I hope they win it all."
Coach Sortino's general statement
"I thought in the inning that Oklahoma scored those four runs that it seemed we were going in the wrong direction every single time. Defense will win the ballgame for you, and we just did not make the plays today, time after time. The good news is that I thought we showed great character by coming right back and scoring those three runs. Then we needed to take better care of the ball. I know I sound like a broken record, but we did not make the routine plays. We had the opportunity to get out of those innings, but you can't play defense at this level like we did today."
Sortino on using this tournament as a teaching tool for next year
"I will absolutely use this experience as a tool for next year. All season, we have been talking about being a better defensive team than we were a year ago, and I think we have stepped our game up. But, today, when we needed to make the plays, it didn't happen and I don't think our girls will ever forget that. There are thirteen underclassmen on this team, and I think this will stay with us for awhile. I told these kids that, you don't know what life has in store for you, and to have the opportunity to play in a regional championship is a pretty big deal."
Oklahoma's opening thoughts
"Relief. Prideful of this group. I think in the back of our minds, honestly now that it's over I was not pleased with having to be sent here because I know UMass and Elaine [Sortino] and their history in the postseason and I was not looking forward to coming here. It was a great challenge for this team having to travel so far when their hearts were set on being home and hosting and then having to turn around and change their mentality. Norelle [Dickson] had a lot to do with that by being the first to stand up and say 'We're doing this.' Then getting here and having the weather the way it was we all thought "Man what is happening here.' [Oklahoma] has a great amount of character and they are on an absolute mission."
Norelle on being a team leader
"We were expecting to host and then when Norman, Okla. wasn't up there we were surprised. We've worked so hard all year, and we were kind of expecting to host. As seniors, though its our job to set the example and so I told them 'Let's go' and they followed."
Lauren on UMass' comeback in the third inning
"I didn't execute the way I should have. They were on top of it. They can hit and they did. Then we made some great defensive plays and the offensive came back and put a few more runs on the board. "
Jamie on hitting in the six hole
"Hitting in the six hole all year, one of my goals was to be the leader of the bottom of the lineup. Norelle is the leader of the whole lineup, she sets the tone day in and day out. Hitting in this six hole keeps me confident. Seeing the ball well and hitting it hard has pretty much been my mentality this whole weekend. Just going out there and getting the job done. It is do or die time. It's step up to the line, toe up or go home. That's our mentality right now."