2014 NCAA Softball Championship - GatorZone.com
Gainesville Regional
May 17, 2014
UCF 6, Stetson 4
UCF Head Coach Renee Luers-Gillispie
On jumping on Stetson early:
?We knew we had to attack early. Being the visiting team and understanding that we had a lot to show them from the last time we played them. We didn?t play our best game towards the end and had to jump on them early and keep them down as best we could. We saw in this game that still wasn?t enough. They?re a very scrappy team, they make things happen at the plate and they make things happen. I felt like girls did a good job of just staying out there and fighting.?
On
reaching the Regional Final:
?It?s
always good to be in the championship final. Going against Florida, we seem to
always be here in Florida for our regionals and we always face them in the
final game and it?s nice to be back there. With as young of a team as we have
it?s good to have that to build on. We know that we have to get back here next
year and whatever happens in tomorrow?s game we?re going to play loose and
relaxed and just focus on what we need to get done and see where it falls.?
Junior Mackenzie Audas
On making it to the Regional Final:
?Competing in any championship game at this level is just an awesome thing. It builds our confidence and makes us closer together. I think we are fired up to come out against Florida and give them a run for their money. We?re not going to go down easy.?
Junior Farrah Sullivan
On facing Florida tomorrow:
?I?m going to tell my girls just to leave it on the field.?
On if being Gainesville adds to the emotion:
?Definitely because the last time I was here my dad was here. It?s big thing for me. Getting this win and playing for him is something I want to do. I remember the last time I was here, he was in the stands and it?s just crazy that he?s not, but I know he?s up there supporting me. ?
On if that makes tomorrow that much more important:
?Yes because I think the last game he got to watch me play was against Florida. So, I feel like still having him in the stands is amazing. I know he?s still up there for me.?
Stetson Head Coach Frank Griffin
On the win today:
?It was a very rewarding season for the players, coaching staff and for me in particular. This team was 5-2 in the postseason. That is a big accomplishment for us at Stetson.?
Meredith Owen?s near home run that was foul in the seventh inning:
?At the end, that was an opportunity. Few degrees this way and a little better spin, and suddenly it?s a tie ball game.
?She ran out of gas on the mound earlier today. That was her seventh postseason appearance. We didn?t know how much she could take, but now we know.?
It was a historical season for the program - conference championship and first postseason win.
?It couldn?t have happened to a greater group of girls. They worked hard. They spent so much time and so much effort in the weight room, conditioning and doing everything they needed in the classroom and on the field. I?m just so happy for them.?
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