June 5, 2004
– South Carolina Quotes
Head Coach Ray Tanner
This was definitely the type of game I expected it to be. Matt Campbell went out and looked very good on the mound. We were able to respond to the early defecit with four runs in the bottom of the first, which I think says a lot about this team. Bard is definitely something special. He looks like he can have the kind of stuff in a couple of years that will make him a top eight or nine pick in the draft. This was anybody’s game today. Matt came out and pitched great, and Blackwell came in and got us some big outs.
(on his pitching staff)
These two guys we threw today can pitch. Campbell has a lot of pitches, and when he is on his game, he’s as good as anyone in the country. Blackwell has some great pitches that are hard to pick up on with his delivery. I’m not surprised to know they struck out a lot of North Carolina batters because of that. I can’t remember the last time we’ve struck out that many people to close a game, but I’m not surprised by the numbers they put up because they do it game in and game out.
(on moving forward in the winner’s bracket) I told the guys before the game that I’ve been around this game a long time. It’s a special game, and there haven’t been many days that I didn’t want to suit up and go out there to play alongside them. Today was not a day where I wanted to play. Playing 18 innings in one day in a regional setup is not something you want to go through. Tomorrow, someone has to beat us twice. It’s definitely not impossible – we did it two years ago against Central Florida. I’d rather be in the winner’s bracket though.
Pitcher Matt Campbell
I credit this win to the four runs my teammates scored in the bottom of the first inning. It took me awhile to get settled in, and I felt bad for giving up that big home run to open the game. But, my teammates came through in the first, and it was definitely easier pitching out there with a lead.
After giving up a big home run, you don’t want to let your emotions get away from you. I settled down and kept my composure. I just wanted to give this team everything I had.
First Baseman Steve Pearce
I feel really good at the plate right now. I’m seeing lots of fastballs, and I’ve been able to smash them pretty good. At the beginning of the season, I was in the three-hole and didn’t get to see many hitable pitches. At the bottom of the order, the pitches are definitely more hitable for a batter.
North Carolina Quotes
Head Coach Mike Fox
Congratulations to South Carolina. You have to play perfect here. I am very proud of the way we pitched. Daniel (Bard) settled down and did a good job. South Carolina played exceptionally well.
(on playing at Sarge Frye Field)
It is a huge advantage to them no question about it. South Carolina would be good anywhere but they are that much better at home. The crowd was not a factor, Matt Campbell and Chad Blackwell were the factors.
(on Matt Campbell)
Our gameplan was to lay off the breaking balls until two strikes. Campbell has a good breaking ball and it is really hard to lay off with two strikes. He pitched exceptionally well.
Pitcher Daniel Bard
(on first inning)
I made a mistake to Melillo up in the zone and you can’t do that against good hitters. Then I made another mistake against Pearce and he hit it out.
