May 22, 2009
VANDERBILT QUOTES
Vanderbilt Head Coach Tim Corbin
On Jonathan White’s hitting …
“He had a great at-bat at the end of the game, which gave us the go-ahead run. To just get into the situation where we could work the count to 3-2 was great. The way he is using the field too is great. He’s hitting balls up the middle, down the line, and off the wall. I’m just happy for him. He deserves it because he has really worked hard. He hasn’t had alot to show for it until now.”
Andrew Giobbi, Vanderbilt Catcher
On the win over South Carolina …
“It was just a whole team victory. We have 25 guys on the roster and we probably used 20 of them. Taking this into Saturday, hopefully, we can keep it rolling.”
On his hitting …
“It was an adjustment to start out with. I didn’t change my approach or anything, it was just about going after the right pitches and it’s been paying off.”
SOUTH CAROLINA QUOTES
South Carolina Head Coach Ray Tanner
Opening Statement …
“It was a great game. [Vanderbilt] haD some chances, and we had some chances – we really had some chances there at the end. We had the right guys at the plate, too; it just did not work out for us. Give credit to Vandy, they were able to make some pitches when they needed to, and we left some runners on base.”
With leaving the bases loaded in the ninth …
“It didn’t work out. Worst-case scenario, we though we were going to be tied going into another inning, but Nick [Ebert] got a pitch that he fouled down the line, then [Vanderbilt pitcher] Chase Reid made a pretty good pitch with a breaking ball and Nick put the bat on it, but it ended up staying in the infield. I was hoping when he hit the ball, the wind would push the ball out there, but it was not far enough. Nick has been great for us all year, and we can expect him to come through, but he can’t do it all the time.”
On Vanderbilt’s pitcher Sonny Gray …
“You have to take advantage of run-scoring opportunities. Part of the reason we didn’t take advantage early on was [Vanderbilt pitcher] Sonny Gray. He was really good. The young man had great stuff, and he is a power pitcher in the mid-90’s, and he could get his breaking ball over at times. He was very difficult to try to figure out.”
Whit Merrifield, South Carolina Centerfielder
On the team’s play against Vanderbilt …
“We fought and we fought, and we battled back to get into position to win at the end. We just did not execute, but it happens, it is part of baseball. We have been hot, so obviously we thought that we could come out on top. But we have to wake up and play again tomorrow against a good LSU team and try to come out with the win.”
