Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Baseball Thursday NCAA Press Conference Quotes
6/3/2010 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 3, 2010
Bucknell Head Coach Gene Depew
On how prominent baseball Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson is on the Bucknell campus:
We have several tributes to him. Our football stadium is named after him. He was also an outstanding football player while he was on campus. We have a very prominent gateway near the entrance to campus that is the Christy Mathewson Gateway. His presence is very prominent on campus.
On the team's scouting reports about South Carolina:
They are a very, very quality team. They are an extremely well-balanced team. Very strong numbers pitching-wise across the board with a lot of depth in that area. Solid hitting throughout the lineup. They have great numbers defensively. None of those things are surprising to have the kind of record they have and to be hosting this regional. Certainly, we have a lot of respect for them and understand the challenge we have tomorrow.
On the weekend's pitching rotation:
We're probably going to do what we've been doing most of the year. We have a number of right-handers that we're going to start. Dylan Seeley in the first game on Friday, Trey Frahler for the Saturday game. We're converting one of our other starters to the pen for situational relief in either of those two games. When you get to this format, you have to have everyone ready to go, be flexible and adapt to the situation.
On school's resume as a giant killer in athletics:
It was a very significant thing for us. It's ironic, because our school is completely over, so there was no one on our campus to help us celebrate. It was actually pretty quiet. The real fans appreciated the accomplishments. We just don't get the limelight the basketball team got when they beat Kansas.
On difference in the team during the late-season winning streak:
We really felt we had a lot of potential on our team when the season started. We played very well in February and most of March, playing very good baseball and (building) high expectations. We just did not play well in April during the heart of our conference season. We lost a lot of close games. We really struggled with runners in scoring position. When that happens, you don't win many games. Fortunately, we got ourselves out of that mold, and when we got to the postseason in May, the guys started swinging it again. We started getting the hits. Through our conference tournament, in six games, we hit 17 home runs. When you do that, that's the reason we're here. Hopefully we're going to be able to keep doing the same thing in June. I hope it's not a month thing.
On how the win over Florida State two years ago gives confidence to the team:
It's certainly there, but Florida State was two years ago. There's only two guys who are in tomorrow night's starting lineup that were in the starting lineup back then. Most of the juniors and seniors were at that regional. We understand we can compete. If we can have a pitcher or a couple of pitchers step up the way Matt Wilson did two years ago at Florida State, I'm very confident that we can hit and play defense with people. We're going to need our pitchers to compete and give us the opportunity to be in the ball game.
On how much he knows about how Carolina Stadium plays:
Very little. We're going to find out in an hour. We're probably going to have a lot of guys trying to hit it out during batting practice. We'll see how it works out. We're not going to go in and try to hit as many home runs as we can. We just want to make contact and have good at bats. It looks like it has the potential to be a good home-run park.
Senior outfielder Andrew Brouse
It's a great experience. We got to be here a year or two ago (in regionals). It's just a fun time. We're down here to make the most of the opportunity and play some good baseball.
On Carolina Stadium:
Driving up, it's an amazing facility. The field looks great. I'm sure the atmosphere will be amazing come gameday.
On whether he had heard of baseball Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson before Bucknell:
Prior to coming to Bucknell, I hadn't. But since I got there, we've heard a lot about his great accomplishments, both in college and in the professionals.
On how they will be treated after upsetting Florida State two years ago:
People might have taken us a little lightly a couple of years ago. I think they'll take us a little more seriously this year, especially when we're having a much better offensive year this year.
On winning their conference tournament:
It was just a matter of getting hot at the right time. We faced some of the teams in the Patriot League a couple of times before that. A lot of our losses were very close losses. We knew we were capable. When the weather started getting nice up north, we started to play really well. The whole team brought it together. Getting hot at the right time was key for us.
On what it will take to beat South Carolina:
Hitting has been essential for us. Our pitching's been great. We've struggled a bit both offensively and defensively throughout the year. Coming down here, if we keep the ball down, put some balls in play and make some things happen, we'll keep doing what we've been doing.
On what they know about South Carolina:
Not much, just what we've seen in the stats online. We've done some research. We've faced some quality pitchers in our four years and this season. I don't think we'll be that outmatched if at all. We're just going to come out and play our game.
On whether the heat and weather will affect their play:
The other year, we had a couple of problems with the heat and hydration, but the temperature was pretty hot up north recently. We haven't played consistently in it, but I think we'll be prepared.
Senior infielder Doug Shribman
On Carolina Stadium:
We took the virtual tour online. Coming down here puts it all in perspective. I'm excited to get down on the actual field and check it out from there.
On whether he had heard of baseball Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson before Bucknell:
Around Bucknell, he's the big name, so you hear all about that.
On how they will be treated after upsetting Florida State two years ago:
I think we did sneak up on Florida State. I think they looked past us a little bit. Hopefully this year, we're taken a little more respectably, and we're able to put up a good fight.
On how winning the Patriot League Tournament gives the team confidence:
It definitely gives us a ton of confidence. Getting hot at the right time is what counts in baseball. When we started at the tournament, we knew if we played our best we could make a run at things. Thankfully, we were able to string a couple of hits together and play well, and hopefully we can continue that.
On what it will take to beat South Carolina:
I think we're a pretty good hitting team. We've played some pretty quality pitchers along the way also. I think we can get a couple of runs, and our pitchers throw like they're capable, keeping the ball down, we'll be able to make outs and keep it close.
On whether the heat and weather will affect their play:
It's so much easier to swing the bats in nice weather. It shouldn't be too big of an issue. We've had some pretty nice weather recently, so we should be okay.
