June 5, 2011

Recap |  Final Stats |  Notes

California Head Coach Diane Ninemire

Opening comment:

"Well, I just want to congratulate Florida. They're a great team, they played really well tonight. I'm just so proud of the effort our players at Cal have played with. It's been a long journey, but a journey that for us starts again tomorrow and we look forward to next year. I'm very fortunate to coach because I don't have to say goodbye to one player, and all of them will be back next year with a whole bunch of new ones. We're really excited about next year. They did a great job, and Jolene Henderson threw her heart out this whole tournament. Our team just played really hard and I can't say enough of their effort that they put in this year."

California Junior Third Baseman Jace Williams

On what happened after Cal jumped out to a 2-0 lead:

"We know Florida has a very explosive offense and we knew that we were going to need a lot of runs. Fantastic team, Florida; not much of a weakness anywhere. So we knew we had to score a lot of runs and unfortunately we only got two that (first) inning. Jolene (Henderson) pitched great. Florida brought their bats and that's the way it rolled."

On playing two games today:

"We believed that we would put up a fight. We didn't want to go two-and-barbecue, as they like to say. We really came out fired up against Oklahoma State; they're a great team as well. Ashley Decker - that was a huge triple. She really clutched up for us. We just came out fighting. We've suffered some injuries this year and we have some players who are playing through some injuries and everyone put up a fight. We weren't going to die until it was over. I'm really proud of my team for that."

California Sophomore Catcher Lindsey Ziegenhirt

On if Florida changing pitchers resulted in a timing issue for Cal's hitters:

"I don't think there was a timing issue. Both are very good pitchers and they both have different stuff. Hannah (Rogers) threw hard and hit her corners really well, and Stephanie (Brombacher) came in and had a really good rise ball,screw ball. The game is about adjustments and unfortunately we didn't make ours. But I thought we played really well against both pitchers."

Florida Head Coach Tim Walton

Opening comment:

"First of all, congratulations to Cal. I thought they came out and really put pressure on us early, and did what they do; bounce the ball. They got after it, really came out of the gates ready to go. Jolene Henderson, obviously, (is) a phenomenal pitcher; All-American, gutted it out. She did a great job for her team, really pitched well. I give credit to our hitters today. I'm proud of the way (pitcher) Stephanie (Brombacher) came in and changed the momentum for us. I thought that was the key moment in the game, securing the lead that we had; changing up the look and going from them being able to bounce the ball to them popping the ball up. I'm proud of the way we responded to a little bit of adversity and our backs against the wall in an elimination Saturday."

On batting Aja Paculba seventh in the lineup:

"I was trying to take a little bit of pressure off her. I felt like teams were pitching around her a little bit to get to her, as hot as Michelle (Moultrie) has been swinging the bat. The goal for me was to, late in the game, have Tiffany DeFelice in the game, my best bunter, with a chance to drop a bunt down, move a runner along. It was a tight game. It was more for that than anything how Tiffany (DeFelice) handles the bat. It worked great today; she got a couple nice hits, got an RBI with two outs, two strikes. Obviously, the move really was what we needed."

On his team's overall hitting performance today:

"I think it's easy for a fan to watch us swing the bat and say, `How are they swinging and missing? What's going on?' Jolene Henderson had some good stuff. That kid was throwing 70 miles per hour. I don't know if this is the proper word, but (she was throwing) a `filthy' change-up. It was ridiculous. We looked bad a couple times early. But give our kids credit. I always knew we could hit, but as good as we could hit today, as good as we hit last night, as good as we hit the day before, this team can swing the bat and it's a tribute more to them than really anything else. They just have a fight inside of them. And give credit to Steve Orris, our strength and conditioning coach, for instilling that in them on the 50 yards of turf we work out on at 6 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Friday for a long time."

Florida Senior Left Fielder Kelsey Bruder

On playing Alabama tomorrow:

"Bama is always an amazing game. It's been back and forth throughout the years. (Pitcher) Kelsi Dunne has gotten us as many times as we've gotten her. It always ends in dramatic fashion. So I'm definitely looking forward to tomorrow and seeing what both teams will bring."

Florida Senior Second Baseman Aja Paculba

On hitting lower in the lineup than usual:

"It's tough hitting behind (leadoff hitter) Michelle (Moultrie). She's a great hitter, especially now. She's on fire. I think batting in the seven (spot) kind of relaxed me a little bit more, took some pressure off me. I was hitting the ball a little bit better today so that helped, but we'll see how it goes."

Florida Senior Pitcher Stephanie Brombacher

On pitching in relief for the first time in a long time:

"It felt great. Hannah (Rogers) was making good pitches. (It's just that) the ground didn't work really well for that. (Coach Walton) just wanted me to go in and spin the ball. I'm more of a pop-up pitcher, so I just went in there and kind of just gave my pitches. (The) strike zone was a little tight. They were swinging the bat, they were aggressive."

Florida Freshman Shortstop Cheyenne Coyle

On her third-inning bases-loaded single that resulted in two runs:

"I was just trying to put the ball in play, definitely look for my pitch; something fast. I really wasn't thinking, `Oh, bases loaded, got to get a hit here.' I was trying to hit the ball, make contact with it, hit the ball hard and put it in play."