Wichita State


Head Coach Gene Stephenson

Opening Statement:
“Its a terribly disappointing loss. We came back from a 4-0 deficit and really badly and really did a lot of good things. This is the second time in a week this has happened and I am very frustrated about it. The only thing you can do is try to regroup and go tomorrow.”

On his pitchers:
“Its awfully hard to sit here and not second guess yourself. (Anthony) Capra didn't have much command but he did get them out. And (Andy) Womack was really good. I had some concerns about taking Womack out because he had been pitching pretty well, but we have a lot of confidence in Noah Krol and Noah Booth. They have done a great job all year long. There is no reason to expect that just one fluke from last weekend was going to keep us from doing the job we've done all year.”

On his bullpen for the rest of the tournament:
“We'll be alright. We just have to see if we can focus and get it back on track (Saturday). We played a good game tonight up until it we couldn't hold on in the ninth. (Travis) Banwart didn't have any command tonight and neither did Capra. But, he battled through with mostly fastballs. And, I thought Womack was outstanding, absolutely outstanding.”

On executing on offense:
“Whether its bunt or hit-and-run, we have got to be able to execute. If you can't execute in this game you can't play.”

On Matt Brown's ninth-inning at-bat:
“It was a fake bunt. We were trying to draw a walk in that situation. We got 2-0 and he pulled back and they called a strike. So we've got 2-1 and we felt like he was going to get a fastball. And, we've got a guy that can run on the bases. You've just got to be able to execute and get on top of that ball. Its a big gamble, its a big risk and I understand that.”

Relief Pitcher Noah Krol
On his relief appearance:
“I just didn't keep the ball down and they hit it.”

Relief Pitcher Noah Booth
On his appearance against UNO's Brandon Bowser:
“I hadn't thrown a fastball the entire at-bat. I sit here now and I second guess myself, but that's all I can do now. I tried to throw a fastball by him and it didn't get by him. I left it up.”

Right Fielder Matt Brown

On his ninth-inning at-bat:
“If you don't do the little things right it comes back and bites you. If you don't get the job done you lose a ballgame.”

On quick turn-around to Saturday's game:
“We have to come out with a burn and a fire to get the job done. Hopefully we can come out and get one from them. I don't have any doubts in my mind that we can do that. We are very talented and if we do the little things right things will come our way. It would be big for us if we can get one and it might take us a long ways.”

Catcher Tyler Weber

On Saturday's game against Oral Roberts:
“Its a team we own one. They have had our number all year. We have to come out with a little chip on our shoulder ready to come after these guys tomorrow. We have to do the little things to beat these guys (Saturday).”
 

New Orleans

Head Coach Tom Walter

Opening Statement:
“First and foremost, what a great venue for college baseball. The field is in great condition and obviously Wichita State has a great ballclub. They are far and away the best team we have played this season. Its a huge win for our coaches and our players. Its the character we have been saying about our team all season. It comes out in so many different ways from so many different people. Ryan Eden stepping up, as a freshman, and getting a hit in the ninth, Drew Anderson executing a perfect double steal and Josh Tarnow, in the ninth inning, makes a huge play throwing a guy out at second base. It just comes from so many guys and that's what makes it special. It was a team effort all the way around. It started with a great effort from Brian Cryer. We felt like if he could match their starter, it would work out well for us.

On regaining ninth-inning comeback:
“Its great, especially off that pitching staff. We are facing a guy in Krol with 11 saves, whose been there done that. We are down at the bottom of the order and Josh (Tarnow) strikes out to start the inning and things were looking bleak. But, there were a couple of big plays in the game that kept the momentum at bay. One of them was that they scored two in the third and one in the fourth and Bryan Cryer goes out there and throws up a zero in the fifth. When Bryan was walking out I told him, ? You're team needs a zero right here to stop Wichita's momentum.' The crowd was building and the best way to do that is to go out as a pitcher and throw up a zero. Josh Tarnow was a big part of that, twice he cut down runners, who had got on, trying to steal. Those are huge momentum killers.”

Center Fielder Brandon Bowser

On his ninth-inning hit:
“To be honest with you, I thought it was going to tie us up and I didn't realize it put us ahead until I rounded first base.”

Catcher Josh Tarnow

On the double steal:
“We just talked about making sure the throw goes through. I took off and I could see that it pulled the shortsop way off the base. I saw we were going to have an easy run because I could see (Jarrod) Ware get to second out of the corner of my eye.”

Starting Pitcher Bryan Cryer

On his start:
“I didn't feel like I was hitting the locations that I should have been but I stayed in the game. I just tried to keep the ball down and after that I just gave us a chance.”