Postgame Quotes: #3 Michigan 9, Oakland 1 (6 inn.)
5/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 15, 2015
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Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins
Opening statement ... "It's great to get an opening round win. As I told my kids, off all the opening rounds we've ever had on Alumni Field, I can never remember one where there was not just a little bit of edgy excitement and a little uptightness. It's normal, I thought we had a little bit of that, and we just had to work through it. And at this point in the season, we're just playing to win and playing to survive. So I'm pleased to get the win, and we're looking forward to getting after it tomorrow."
On sophomore RHP Megan Betsa ... "I thought Megan pitched well. She gave up one hit that was a well-hit ball and right on time. But she was fine. She came right back the next inning and was outstanding. My goal going into today was to make sure to get both of our pitchers into the game and a chance to experience the postseason environment in front of a packed house."
On the Wolverines' big inning and sophomore Lindsay Montemarano ... "Lindsay's favorite thing to do is to not get her bunt down, and then she likes to get a hit so she won't get into trouble. Big innings have been the way we roll, but honestly we just have to find a way to make things happen. We took advantage of some walks and mistakes that they made and were able to put some things together. I didn't think we swung particularly well, but we just found a way to get some runs. Monte certainly had a big hit there to break it open for us."
On the run-rule win ... "There is no significance. If it was 1-0, that's good enough. This is the NCAA Tournament, and our goal is to win every game."
U-M Sophomore RHP Megan Betsa
On shaking off the Oakland home run ... "She was off the plate, and I just didn't get it in enough. She got her bat around to it and was on time. It was a good hit off a good pitch. I just wanted to come back stronger and attack the next batter, and I did that. I wanted to forget about that pitch and focus on the next batter."
On what was working tonight ... "I think my rise ladder was working really well. I was throwing it for strikes and then getting them to chase at it."
On she and Haylie Wagner complementing each other ... "We just come in here and both work really hard. We're both really positive for each other. I think that's a great thing. We have each other's back. That's why we're so successful."
U-M Sophomore Lindsay Montemarano
On her third-inning double ... "Sometimes when you're down 0-2, you have to hit anything close. Lately, I've really had confidence in myself and everyone has confidence in me, which is really nice. So, if it's close I know in my mind that I just have to put a good cut at it and I can hit it and hit it well -- put bat on ball and hit it hard."
On having one postseason under her belt ... "I know now that I just have to go out and play my hardest. Nothing's different; the game doesn't change and doesn't know it's postseason. Just having that mindset helps keep you calm, cool and collected."
On scoring the game-ending run ... "I saw it was in the gap and started going. Hutch was waving me around pretty aggressively. I kind of had a feeling she was going to throw her hands up, but at that point I had turned it on coming around second and I couldn't stop myself. I wanted to get a run."
