Miami/NC State Postgame Quotes
June 7, 2003
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Miami Coach Jim Morris
“N.C. States got a great club. [NC State Starter Michael Rogers] pitched very well for a period of time. He kept his composure in the first inning and I have to give him credit for that. We jumped up three to nothing and we could have maybe blown it out, but he kept his composure and did a great job.”
“We kicked it around a little bit but we made a great effort coming back after they put up that six spot. We came right back at them and I’ve got to give our guys credit for that. Alex Blanco did a great job coming in and holding them until the ninth inning when we went to [Shawn] Valdez-Fauli. They had second and third and he gets them out with the infield in to preserve the game and get us out of that situation.”
“It was a team effort to come back. It was a great team effort. NC State will be ready to play. They showed that they are not going to fold in the first inning. They will be ready to play tomorrow. It will be a very tough game.”
Miami short stop Ryan Braun
On his walk off home run:
“I was just looking to hit something hard and he left it out over the plate a little bit and I was able to hit it hard.”
“I pride myself in these situations. I really feel comfortable in these situations. I think I have a little bit extra focus and concentration”
“If I try to hit home runs I find my self striking out or popping up. The home runs come naturally. I try to hit the ball hard and the ball carries out of the park”
Miami third baseman Gaby Sanchez
“My defensive play wasn’t that good today so I knew that I had to do it somewhere else. That’s how baseball is; if you are not playing good defensively then you have to do it offensively. With Ryan Braun getting that double and having runners on second and third I knew it was my job to get them in. That was my job and that was my focus in that at bat. I looked for my pitch to hit and he gave it to me.”
On scoring the tying run:
“[Erick] San Pedro did a great job. He hit the ball in the air. When I saw the guy diving I made up my mind that I had to go and try to tie up the ballgame. When I saw the guy going down, I started running, his throw was a little off and I scored.”
NC State Head Coach – Elliott Avent
“Both teams played very well early to try to get a lead, two great pitchers going at it. They were matching pitches for about three or four innings, they kicked a couple of balls early and they got us kick started and obviously (Ryan) Braun kick started them.”
“You have to give Miami credit they came back with a five-spot after we took a 9-3 lead. I thought we were in pretty good shape but Miami’s obviously a great ball club and they were a little better today.”
NC State pitcher Michael Rogers
On the sixth inning
“We been doing this all year it was just one of those things, but when you don’t make the pitches to a team like Miami or any other good baseball team that’s what going to happen.”
NC State first baseman Justin Riley
On the emotions of the team after the game
“It hurts but we have been in games like this the entire year and that’s what got us here to Miami, Fla. today. There were two good teams going at it and that’s why I’ve been playing baseball since I was six years old.”
