May 17, 2003

Recap| Box Score

California head coach Diane Ninemire
On the pitchers' dual ... "It was a great pitchers' dual between Kelly (Anderson) and Lindsay Chouinard. It was just a game between two really good teams. I didn't expect it to be anything but a close game today. I was really proud of my team. Although we had opportunities almost every inning and didn't capitalize on them, we didn't give in. We kept fighting and believing we were going to get that key hit to score a run."

On Veronica Nelson ... "I feel really happy for Veronica. She's been struggling a little in this tournament, not hitting like she is capable of doing. For her to come up with that key drive on an off-speed pitch was a great thing for her mentality. It

On the battery of Kelly Anderson and Courtney Scott ... "Kelly has been very consistent. She has been ahead in the count and has been able to keep batters off balance with her change up. You also need to give Courtney a lot of credit,she is such a general behind the plate, scooping balls out of the dirt, calling the game and setting the batters up for Kelly. The two of them have done an extremely outstanding job."

On going into tomorrow having to lose twice to be eliminated ... "We go into tomorrow, whether we face DePaul or Michigan, with the same mental attitude. We will take it one game at a time and we know we are going to be in for a great game. Again, we are going to have to come up with out best game and get the key hits we've had in the past few games."

California first baseman Veronica Nelson
On the game ... "Throughout the game each team had people on base and had an opportunity to get in. It was a little frustrating at times but when you're facing great pitchers like (Lindsay) Chouinard and Kelly (Anderson) you're going to have those situations. Fortunately for us, our pitcher held us in the game and allowed us to get a run first."

On the pitch she hit for the game-winning RBI ... "In my first four at bats today the first pitch was a change up. Going up in the seventh, I decided that I was going to swing at the first pitch because I knew what was going to be coming. I just focused on staying back and driving the ball."

On preparing for tomorrow ... "We're going to come out and give it our all to try to end it in one game. We know both Michigan and DePaul are going to battle. We're lucky enough to be in the position where they are going to have to beat us twice."