Game 2: Post-Game Quotes and Audio

June 2, 2006

Clemson Regional Post-GamePress Conferences Media PlayerEvent Download the Free Real Player.Elon(8:10)Download the Free Real Player.MississippiState(5:53)

Elon Head Coach Mike KennedyOpening Comments “I thought we played extremely well. We caught a little heat by not playing too well at the Southern Conference Tournament. We committed nine errors in a little over three days, so we were certainly focused defensively. We’ve been good in that area all year. When we got back from the conference tournament, we hoped we’d be in this position (NCAA Regional). We went back to work on trying to catch the baseball, something we’d done well all year. Fortunately, I thought it helped us. I thought Mississippi State swung the bats well, but we made some tough plays and got it done.

“This was our first-ever win in a regional. It’s pretty special and I think our kids realize that. Our coaching staff certainly realizes that. You’ve got to take steps when you try to get to this level. We play a lot of good teams and we’ve had a lot of good wins. This is why you play. You try to get your program to this point where you can come into this type of an atmosphere and play well. It’s obviously one of the biggest wins we’ve had.”

On Irvine’s pinch hit single “We’ve seen a lot of left-handed pitchers in the last month of the season, and he doesn’t play a whole lot against left-handers. As soon as the right-hander came in, we called his (Irvine) number and he delivered for us.”

Elon Pinch-Hitter Patrick IrvineOn his game-winning eighth inning single “The first pitch I saw was a fastball down in the strike zone. Then I swung through a slider inside. Then I saw a fastball on the outer half. The pitch I hit was a backdoor slider. I was just looking to try to put the bat on the ball, get a hit, and help my team win.”

Elon Right Fielder Ryan AddisonOn his stolen base and run scored in the eighth inning “In that situation I was just trying to do what I do best, which I guess is run. I knew I had to get a steal in that situation so I could get into scoring position. That’s the sort of thing we’ve harped on from day one. We thought it was a pretty good matchup and the percentage looked good for stealing a base there.”

Mississippi State Head Coach Ron PolkOpening Statement “It was another close ballgame. Brooks Dunn pitched well, I thought. The second inning was our nemesis. We gave up a walk and then a hit and a sacrifice bunt, and we didn’t make a play. Brooks pitched well though. The Elon pitchers worked the outside of the plate, but we knew they would do that from the scouting report. At the same time, it was another disappointing one-run loss again for us. Elon is a fine ball club. I thought we had some opportunities against their pitcher. His command was sometimes questionable, but he seemed to always come back and only walked one batter.”

On staying with Dunn “I had no question about it. He was pitching behind in the count a little bit, but he’s our number one so we have to stay with him. If we make a play in the second inning, we maybe get out only giving up one or two runs.”

On pulling Dunn “He had thrown 120 pitches, which on a hot day like today seems more like 130-140.”

#38 Brooks Dunn, pitcherOn earning the start “It was just another start for me. I’m glad to have been given the opportunity to get the ball in the first game of the regionals. I appreciate that. I’ve been the number one all year, but I wasn’t it today. I let my team down. We had a great game plan, and I just didn’t get it done.”

#17 Chad Crosswhite, pitcherOn coming on in relief “I’m glad coach called on me after Dunn. That was huge for me. Coming in, all I had to do was hold the runner, not let him score. And I didn’t do it.”

#7 Jeffrey ReaOn his triple “I worked the count. Their pitcher had been throwing me away all day. One got away from him and I just hit it. Ed (Easley) did a great job following me up and getting me in.”

On coming back after losing the first game “We’ve never done it the easy way. It seems we’re always fighting here, fighting there. I guess we’re right where we need to be, in a sense. It’s going to be tough, but we have a lot of veteran guys. We’ve been here before and we’ve done it before, so I guess we’ll have to do it again.”