University of Massachusets Athletics
Postgame Quotes; Stanford 6, UMass 0
May 18, 2008 | Softball
May 18, 2008
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UMass Quotes:
Coach Elaine Sortino's General Comments
I thought our kids did a great job in the first game. They stuck with the plan. They knew they had to jump out early, put the ball in play and make them field the ball. I really thought we had a sense of purpose and were very tough outs for her. I thought we took care of the ball defensively. I thought Brandice, especially in the first six innings, had them at bay and when they started to get to her in the seventh inning; I thought she brought her best stuff. She brought her best pitches and it worked in our favor. In the second game, we folded a little when they scored early. I thought we started to press, and went right back to what we did yesterday which was trying to do too much, too fast. We had a situation where it was hard for her to pitch out there. I also thought we made it a little easy for them by swinging at bad pitches and not forcing Penna to bring the ball to us. I thought our lack of patient and discipline against a better pitcher showed up in the second game. I think you have to give the advantage to Stanford and their Pac-10 schedule and seeing good pitching all the time. Our kids haven't really seen that caliber of pitching. I've played in a lot of Regionals and I can not think of one that was more difficult on our team.
Coach Sortino on Brandice Balschmiter's performance
I expected Brandice to show up with her A-game today. She knew the game was on the line and she knew the kind of team Stanford is. She saw them yesterday and knew what kind of hitters they are. She was prepared. I think physically, there was nothing debilitating her. She is a warrior.
Coach Sortino on Cullington's return
I thought her starting would lift us a little bit. We've waited a long time to have her back in the lineup, and the doctor cleared her last night. I thought she would bring what she needed, defensively. We had her in the eighth spot, and I thought we would be able to do a little bit more with her offensively. It didn't work out that way, but I was glad for her. She didn't have to watch with her arms resting on the fence in her senior year in what was her last game.
Brandice Balschmiter on fatigue from pitching five games
Not when we started, no. But my body went numb pretty much from the fourth inning on.
Whitney Mollica on the first inning of the championship game.
We are trying as hard as we can and you really cant ask for more than that. The ball popped out of my glove, honestly. I thought I had it right there. The weather isn't an excuse for us fielding the ball. I just made a mistake.
Balschmiter on Missy Penna
She obviously knew how to get us out. I didn't think we did a good job adjusting in the second game. She did well, you have to give it to her, she came out on top.
Mollica on Penna
I think that we made it easier for her to get us out if you want my honest opinion. I think that we needed to swing at better pitches. Some of us were swinging at that rise ball, myself included and that obviously makes it easier for a pitcher when we are swinging at balls we shouldn't be. Sometimes we were letting pitches go that were good which didn't help. Overall we were trying the best we could but we should have made better mental decisions.
Balschmiter on adversity
The postseason is not easy. It's worth it and you value it more when it's hard. It is no fun when you blow through it and it's easy.
Stanford Quotes:
Missy Penna on adversity
I think a big theme in our series with UMass was scoring first. In all three games the team that scored first won. I think it was a nice cushion for them in the first game and then for us in the second. It was a relief that we scored first and we could play our game without being so tight and tense.
Rosey Neill on the second game
It was pretty much just inning number eight with a little break in between. She was throwing the same pitches consistently so it was like a continuation of the first game. Coach was positive with us in between games. He has faith in us and knows we can come out and dominate. He told us he knew we could win this game. We just had to make a few hitting adjustments.
The second game almost felt as if it started in the sixth inning of the first when we started hitting and getting on a roll. We were beginning to see pitches and hit them well. We definitely kept it going.
Neill on Penna's no-hitter
She is definitely a clutch player. She knew what she had to do and the adjustments she had to make and did a good job of going out there and getting them. If her drop wasn't working she used her screwball and curveball. She held her own and did a good job of making something work every inning. You have to say a lot for her endurance, she pitched every inning of the series.
Coach John Rittman's opening thoughts
I think there were two very good teams battling out there today for a championship and you have to love the competition. I thought Brandice and Missy pitched outstanding. UMass had a tougher road playing the [three] games yesterday so we might have had an advantage starting the second game. Missy is very capable and in great shape and we felt confident with her going into the second game. The first game, defensively, we didn't make some plays and you can credit UMass and their hitters for putting the ball in play but you have to make plays and we got behind. We tried to come back at the end of the game and came up a little short. In the case of game two, it seemed like who ever was scoring first was going to win and our players did a good job of coming out first and putting some runs on the board. That took some pressure off Missy and our defense.
Coach Rittman on Penna's pitching
No question about it Missy did extremely well. As a coach, you do not want to jinx the no hitter, but you are always thinking about it. In the third and fifth innings I glanced up but I forgot about it until the last inning and thought, `hopefully nobody jinxes this thang.' She got more focused as the game went on and as Rosey eluded she attacked their hitters aggressively. For her to have that type of a performance in a game of that magnitude is an outstanding achievement for her and our program.