May 9, 2014

Kentucky Head Coach Rachel Lawson
I thought today was a great game for both teams, and I thought that both pitchers threw great games. Holding LSU’s offense down was huge for (Kelsey) Nunley. They are a great offensive team, and they are playing really well right now. Offensively, I thought that we did a great job of putting people on base. I would like to see us score a few more. Overall, I really like the fight in our team and how persistent we were and then we ended up with the win in the end.

On the sophomore class and the ability they have to make plays:
When speaking specifically about the sophomore class, first of all it is a large class, and that is why you are seeing them do great things and they are great athletes. On our team, however, we pride ourselves in the fact that everyone has a skill and add value to the team, and we really try to maximize that value. That is why today you see that when we needed a run Sylver (Samuel) used her speed and what (Kelsey) Nunley can do on the mound, and (Christian) Stokes’ value is what she can do in the field and what she has been doing at the plate is just an added bonus. As a team, I think they have really bought in to maximizing their value. They are a great group and very coachable, and they are blue-collar people who really love each other and they love the game.

Sophomore pitcher Kelsey Nunley
On the sophomore class and the ability they have to make plays
We are all out there wanting to win, and if we do the right things then we can win. I think that the sophomore class is great and I’m proud to be a sophomore, but I think the team overall is what is most important.

On pitching the last three games and the effects of the performance
I’m a little tired, but if coach throws me out there tomorrow, I’m going to throw hard and do whatever I can to help my team.

Sophomore centerfielder Sylver Samuel
On the at-bat for the two-RBI double
I was just trying to let go of a lot of things and not think that much. I just wanted to clear my mind and make sure that my timing was on because that has been the main thing that has been getting me lately. Along with that, I wanted to be slow through the box and not think as much and it worked out.

On the sophomore class and the ability they have to make plays
As a team, everybody wants to win and do something to help us win. Nobody wants to give up and so we always fight so we can win.

LSU Head Coach Beth Torina
I thought Kentucky played really well today; I have a lot of respect for their pitcher, Kelsey Nunley. She threw a great game and did a good job at keeping us off balance. On our side, I thought we gave up too many free passes that they did not earn. Everything they got I thought we did to ourselves. Of course, in the end they get all credit for winning the game and finding a way to win, but I thought we could have played better.

On preparation for NCAA
I think we have had good showings in both games. Obviously, there are things that we could have done better in this game without question, but I loved how we played yesterday. I think we are in a good spot and playing good softball. I’m confident about this team, I think we have a quality program. We will be ready for whomever we draw on Sunday, and we will give them a good game.

On the rally in the bottom of the seventh
I don’t think it was anything I had to say to this team, I think they are really good at fighting back. They have shown that they can come back and win. They scored seven runs in the bottom of an inning to beat Georgia this year, so I think from that moment on this team has understood that they can fight and I think that was just another moment where they showed their guts.

Freshman pitcher Baylee Corbello
I think it was all about momentum. We never gained moment quickly, but I think our team did a good job at trying to rally and to come back and get runs, but in the end I need to get better.

On her pitching
Honestly it’s free passes I have to eliminate and learning that I need to go right at batters and trust my team that they are going to get them out.

Freshman right fielder Bailey Landry
On batting approach
It was a big tournament so I knew I needed to step up and I wanted to give my team a chance to win and big successful here.