University of Minnesota Athletics
Post-game Quotes: Minnesota 8, Auburn 6
5/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 18, 2014
NCAA Minneapolis Softball Regional
Jane Sage Cowles Stadium
Minneapolis, Minn.
Auburn 6
Minnesota 8
MINNESOTA
Jessica Allister, head coach
Opening Statement…
"I couldn't be prouder of this team. To fight all day, the pitchers leaving it all out on the mound, the offense leaving it all out there, the defense coming up with some huge plays… We knew going into it that it wasn't going to be easy. We knew we were going to have to embrace the hard and just continue to fight through and the team embodied that."
On what she said to the team after the first game ended…
"That we were going to win. We were going to win. We needed to stick together and we needed to fight no matter how long it was going to take."
On what it means to her to be headed to a Super Regional for the first time in program history…
"I don't think it has sunk in yet. But it just means that this season that this team has put together gets to continue. I couldn't ask for a better group of girls to work with every day. We have a tremendous group of young women and it is a privilege to coach them and it is a privilege to watch them compete."
On the unsung hero in Nikki Anderson…
"It was huge. You could see how excited everyone got when Nikki starts throwing strikes and striking people out. I said that all along, Nikki is the unsung hero of the pitching staff. She pitched some great, great innings for us and she has been working her tail off in the bullpen to stay ready for when she got an opportunity."
Tyler Walker
On bouncing back after the loss in the first game…
"I think for any other team it would be difficult but for us, we knew we had Nikki in our back pocket to put on the mound when Moulton was getting a little tired. But it wasn't difficult for us, it was fun. So I think that is where we got most of our drive."
On the feeling in the dugout while being down three runs…
"It was kind of like… what do we have to lose? We just wanted to leave it all out there and that is what we did. It worked out for us."
On how it feels to be going to a Super Regional…
"It is a privilege and an opportunity. And like I said last time… we aren't done. I think that still stands now. We are not done. We are just going to play one day at a time."
Sam Macken
On her important hits this past weekend and during regionals…
"This week has been crazy actually. Today, I didn't get a hit again and then obviously I hit the last one out, so just staying calm has been the biggest thing and having fun with it."
On the last at-bat and what was going through her mind…"Well that was the second game that we saw her so I had a lot of at-bats against her. I mean I was seeing her but I wasn't really getting lucky I guess. Then she threw me my pitch and I took advantage of it."
AUBURN
Clint Myers, head coach
Opening Statement…
"I want to thank the city of Minneapolis for hosting a great tournament. I wish the University of Minnesota great success in their future endeavors and I would like to tell you how proud I am of the Auburn Tigers. Our first year, we had 42 wins and were playing in a championship game with the winner going to a Super Regional. That is the first time that has happened in Auburn's history. We fell a little short. These two young ladies that I have here both played very good games today and have very good years and they will be our seniors for next year. So what we have learned this year and that the disappointment that we are currently feeling, these two young ladies are going to be to express those feelings to our team next year. Because nobody wants to feel that until the very end and if you are fortunate enough you may not even have to feel that. That is ultimately the goal of every team in the playoffs. Again, I am extremely proud of the ladies that we have only had since August. They did a tremendous job. I am sorry that the seniors did not get to play one more weekend and we will be back.
On what he said to his team after playing two great games today…
"I am extremely proud of them. Our coaching staff is extremely proud of them. If you would have said that we were going to have 42 wins and an RPI of 15 coming into the playoffs, I know that was a concern of some people, our RPI. We played a great schedule and played great opponents and we are in a great conference in the SEC. We won four of eight, what we call, Super Regional practices. We had a chance to win six had we taken care of business the right way. But for a team full of freshman of various ages, which we say often, I thought they did a great job. The legacy of Auburn softball began here in Minneapolis. We are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the future. There is no reason, none whatsoever, that any of those ladies should have their heads down and not be proud of what they accomplished. Because we are so proud of what they did. None of the coaches fielded a ground ball; we didn't take one swing this year. They did it all. They put in the time and effort and believe me, it is a lot different than what they were used to. They went out and did their business. They wanted it. They showed great character in the seventh inning right there. They came off the bench and did great things. They didn't quit. Did we fall short? Yes. Did we play the best game possible? No. But from this we learn a life lesson. We play a game, but what we try to teach is about life. I know these ladies are going to be better people in the world because of their experiences with each other and with our coaching staff and the University of Auburn. We are sorry that we have to go home, but we are very proud."
Both teams are in pretty similar places right now. What did you think was the difference in the game?
"You cannot give extra opportunities to good teams. Just take that ground ball. How is that going to change that inning if we make the play? Good teams are good because of the fact that they capitalize on their opponent's mistakes and that is exactly what Minnesota did to us today. We gave them an extra out to play with and they beat us with it. Things could have been a whole lot different if we…well we could still be playing, we just don't know. Good teams take advantage of mistakes and that is what happened today. We preach that every single day, it is the little things in the day that are going to make the difference between winning and losing. Today was a perfect example of that. Considering that we were one of the best defensive teams in the country, you hate to have that happen at this time in the season. That is also a learning point, also a growing point."
Morgan Estell
On coming back after losing Friday…
"Throughout the whole season, we never give up. No matter what inning, what pitch…as long as we have an out, we are still in the game. We can take one swing and win the game. That is what we told everybody. There are three seniors who do not really get to step onto the field, so we are doing it for them. Because nobody wants to feel like this right now."
On if it was difficult to go out and play right away after winning the first game…
"No. Not at all. We were pumped. We wanted to keep going in the postseason, but we fell a little short."
McKenzie Kilpatrick
On coming back after losing Friday…
"I just think it shows out character. We never give up and always try to keep going."
On how difficult it is to play four games in two days…
"It's pretty tough. For me, I always have in the back of my mind that we have to win, we have to keep going. It makes it harder, but it makes it more rewarding when we do win."
