May 8, 2014
Missouri Head coach Ehren Earleywine
Opening Statement
We played really badly today, and we are out of the tournament. Now we are going to have to move on to the regionals.
On keeping players motivated throughout the game…
I needed someone to keep me motivated. It was a horribly played game on both sides of the ball. We didn’t pitch well; we didn’t hit well; and we didn’t field well. There is nothing you can say at those moments. You coach all year so your kids play well. There is nothing you can say at a drop of a hat that is going to turn things around. There is no magic pill. We just played really poorly today. We looked like a really poorly coached team, too.
On focusing on regional play coming up…
I do not know how they can forget about this one. For me, losing and failure and people telling me that I can’t, has always fueled me to do better. That taste of salt in your mouth has always been a driver for me. I can’t speak for them.
LSU Head Coach Beth Torina
Opening Statement…
I thought it was a nice all-around victory for us. I thought our offense set the tone early there in the first half of the first inning. I thought that was a huge difference in the game, coming out and swinging big. I thought Ashley (Czechner) did a great job of keeping their offense off balance the entire game and she really threw a nice game.
On being able to enjoy this win, but turn the page and get ready to play tomorrow…
I think we really wanted to come out and get the first one under our belt and set the tone early. That’s something that this group of seniors had not done, to go out and send a message in the first game of the SEC tournament. We’re definitely going to have to go back to the drawing board to get ready for tomorrow. We’ll find out who we’ll be playing and we’ll go ahead and make our plan.
Senior Pitcher Ashley Czechner
On coming back to her home state of South Carolina and having a good performance in today’s victory…
I love playing in South Carolina because it’s my home state. This facility is probably one of the best in the country, but it’s not as nice as Tiger Park, but its one of the nicest. It’s just really cool that people from South Carolina can see me play because they haven’t gotten to see me much during my collegiate career. I’m just glad South Carolina is hosting the SEC tournament.
On being ready if she is needed to go on short rest and pitch tomorrow…
During SEC play, we’re playing against the best teams and anything can happen. You always have to be ready. I just want to play well for my teammates and I know they’re going to play well behind me.
Freshman Catcher/Infielder Sahvanna Jaquish
On her performance today…
I think I was more relaxed up there and I believed in my teammates. When they’re swinging well, I’m swinging well. It just gives me confidence in myself and the whole team was on it today.
