<p><strong>NCAA Softball Regional<br />
Robin Petrini<br />
Penn State Head Coach</strong><br />
</p>
<p><strong>Opening statement</strong><br />
“Were happy to be here. I’m excited that South Carolina is hosting because of their great tradition in softball and baseball. The SEC always puts on great tournaments so we’re excited to be down here. I think this field is wide open and whoever comes out and plays their best softball will win.”</p>
<p><strong>On the team</strong><br />
Our strength this year has been out hitting. We’ve been able to score runs against just about anyone that we’ve played. We’ve struggled in the circle a little bit so we have had to out hit and out score our opponents during games.</p>
<p><strong>On getting a regional bid</strong><br />
“I didn’t feel confident that we would get a regional bid but when I saw the RPI’s and the numbers, I knew that other teams might be in trouble. Every year there are teams that feel as if they should get in and don’t, and there are teams who don’t think are going to get and do. It all balances out in the wash over the years.”</p>
<p><strong>On the season</strong><br />
“We lost six conference games due to weather, which always places a factor in conference records. We lost two more regional games due to weather as well. We have some very significant wins on our schedule. Texas, BYU, Cal State Fullerton and Michigan come time mind as good wins for our program. We played a caliber schedule all year long and we won our share of those caliber games.”</p>
<p><strong>North Carolina State Coach Lisa Navas</strong><br />
</p>
<p>”We’re just excited to be here. Our strength has been our team camaraderie. We have nine seniors and they’ve been through hell and high water. It’s a building process in our fourth year in general, and these are the steps we’ve taken.”</p>
<p><strong>On not hosting a regional:</strong><br />
“We don’t have a stadium. It’s being built. It was supposed to be done last year but right now it’s in the process of being built.”</p>
<p>”The feeling of our team is we’re one in 64 (teams). Anybody can beat anybody. I want to avoid any cliché’s, but I’m excited to be here. I feel like a little kid. At this point, you have to get hot and you need a little luck.”</p>
<p>”I look at it as every game is the last game. We’re going to go three deep (pitching). We have three outstanding pitchers in Abbie (Sims), Shaina (Ervin) and Megan (Dalthorp). We’ll just give it all we’ve got.”</p>
<p>”Our kids – from the first day of practice teaching them how to throw and catch four years ago to where we are now – I’m just ecstatic. I’m glad these kids took a chance on me…it’s been a lot of fun.”</p>
<p><strong>Regarding the four-year program history:</strong><br />
“I honestly think we haven’t gone by the standards everyone set for us. Everyone put their arm around me saying ‘You’re going to lose those first years.’ No one goes into a gym wanting to lose. We work hard, play and the outcome becomes itself.”</p>
<p><strong>NC State Senior 3B Jen Chamberlain</strong></p>
<p>”It has to be our team chemistry. Towards the beginning of the year we weren’t clicking so much. One day something clicked and everyone started hitting. It was a great feeling to play with everyone hot.”</p>
<p><strong>NC State Senior Pitcher Abbie Sims</strong></p>
<p>”We were wide-eyed and bushy tailed last year because it was our first NCAA experience. This time we’re ready and prepared and not thrown off on the whole NCAA experience.”</p>
<p><strong>Kathy Arendsen<br />
Oregon Head Coach</strong><br />
</p>
<p><strong>Opening statement</strong><br />
“We are thrilled to be here. It’s a great place to come. Having been a former SEC coach, I am familiar with Columbia, Beckham Field, the hospitality and how friendly everyone is here. It’s a great experience for our players to come to a different region. Most of the players have never been to the South before. We know it’s going to be a very competitive weekend but we are excited to be a part of it.”</p>
<p><strong>On playing at South Carolina</strong><br />
“I coached at Mississippi State for six years so I am very familiar with the incredible competition in the SEC. I was coaching when players like South Carolina’s Trinity Johnson and Megan Matthews were here. I saw some really great South Carolina teams during that time and I am very aware of how strong the Gamecock softball program is.”</p>
<p><strong>Strength of team</strong><br />
“I think it’s a combination of things but we try to build with our defense first and our defense has been superb. We’ve also incorporated a new hitting style that has resulted in our team hitting over a .300 on the year. Maybe the biggest change this year is that we have a lot of speed and are able steal bases and make some things happen when our leadoff hitters get on base. This is an incredible group of young women with great chemistry so all of the intangibles are there.”</p>
<p><strong>Oregon Junior 3B Joanna Gail </strong><br />
“I think the real strength of our team is the ability to make things happen when we have players on base. I think that we do the best when we score early and our number 1 and 2 hitters are able to get on base right away to let that happen.”</p>
<p><strong>South Carolina Coach Joyce Compton</strong><br />
</p>
<p>”We’re definitely excited to play at home. It’s always fun to be at home in a regional, stay in your own bed and get extra practice days. I know it’s exciting for our players.”</p>
<p><strong>Regarding hosting a Regional:</strong><br />
“A lot of the first round goes by location and what’s easiest coming and going for most teams. They kind of look at the whole economic situation.”</p>
<p><strong>Regarding if she was surprised at hosting:</strong><br />
“Yes and no. I know we’ve been pretty successful, and the NCAA has like what we’ve put on here in the past.”</p>
<p>”I’m more concerned about our team and what we do. You can’t worry about other team’s stats and their pitching. We’re concerned about our team and what we’re capable to do. If we do what we’re capable of, we’ll be fine.”</p>
<p><strong>Regarding NC State:</strong><br />
“We’ve watched a few games and have their stats. I’m sure McKenna (Hughes) will get a report on how to throw their runners out. We played them last year early in the season, so we’re a little familiar.”</p>
<p><strong>Regarding Senior McKenna Hughes:</strong><br />
“McKenna has been a great impact on our program. She’s probably the most unselfish player I’ve ever had. Prior to this year, she has played every position except centerfield and pitcher. It probably hurt her in some postseason awards because she’s never had just one position. This year, moving to catcher was not a position she wanted to play, but she knew this year that it was the value we needed her. If she’d stayed at one position (in her career), this year, in my eyes she’d be an All-American candidate.”</p>
<p><strong>USC Senior Catcher McKenna Hughes</strong></p>
<p>”Playing at home has an impact. It will help a lot being here. Gamecock fans are the greatest, and being with home fans will have a great impact on how we play.”</p>
<p>”Just being able to focus on one position is nice because you can really focus. I didn’t mind moving around – it has been fun in some ways – but it’s nice to focus on just catching this year. I like the aspect of having control of the game and being in on every play.”</p>
<p><strong>USC Junior Pitcher Kate Pouliot</strong></p>
<p>”We approach it like every game. We’re very excited. To not know if you’ll be in a Regional to getting into one, it’s exciting to play especially in front of our home fans.”</p>
<p><strong>Regarding keys to success:</strong><br />
“Me and Melissa Hendon holding batters, playing solid defense like we have been all year and being aggressive at the plate. (If we do that) we’ll be fine.”</p>
