May 20, 2005
Erin Kalka, Missouri Pitcher
On team's attitude
"We're a strong team and we all believe that we can win. We'll come out strong tomorrow no matter who we're playing."
On first game of tournament
"We came out strong today, we just didn't get the hits together we needed and made some little mistakes."
Ty Singleton, Missouri Head Coach
On loss to SIU
"We are disappointed by losing. However, it was a fun day of ball and a neat opportunity for Columbia to see two quality teams play."
On offensive game
"Offensively I was real pleased with how hard we hit the ball. A couple times we made it a little more difficult than what it was. When we got a couple pitches to hit we didn't drive it, we hit some weak ground balls in those situations."
On team's attitude
"The thing I know about this team is they have the character and determination to still win this tournament. Like they showed at the Big 12 tournament, it's very evident that they have heart."
On past regional appearances
"This is our third year in a row going to Regionals and losing our first game, however, this year as opposed to our last two I am very pleased with our battle today. I'm very pleased with our fight. I'm very pleased with our determination. To me, they looked like a championship ball club today. The last two years we played tentative and nervous. They did not play tentative today."
On mistakes in game
"We had a couple of mistakes and they cost us. A couple of Carbondale's mistakes didn't cost them. The game could have gone either way and Carbondale's a very good team."
On rest of the tournament
"I believe this team can win this tournament. If we do a better job of executing with people in scoring position, we don't give up runs for free and I think we'll win our next ball game."
Amy Harre, SIU Pitcher
On pitching
"Once you get to postseason it's a whole new ballgame, regular season is out the window and postseason is do or die time. The atmosphere was great today, the intensity level was great for both teams. We're just fortunate enough that we came out on top."
On Maria Damico
"Maria had a heck of a day she was outstanding all the way around."
Maria Damico, SIU Center Fielder
On homerun in the sixth inning
"I'm not going to lie, I was guessing. I got lucky that she threw what I was guessing and I was lucky it went out."
On conference tournament
"We completely forgot about the tournament last weekend and what happened. We didn't want it to happen again so we forgot about it and came out with a completely different attitude today."
On performance in past regional tournaments
"We always seem to do very well in the regional tournament and I hope we continue to do so."
On expectations of facing Missouri
"Mizzou is an awesome hitting team. I knew that since they had saw me once today would be a little bit different ball game. I was just hoping to keep the ball at the knees and hopefully get a lot of ground balls."
Kerri Blaylock, SIU Head Coach
On the win over Missouri
"I'm ecstatic we got the win, because I respect Coach Singleton and their program. "
On tournament strategy
"It doesn't matter if it's Stanford or Robert Morris you just have to go play the game. We've been talking about a nameless, faceless opponent the entire year and that's how we play best."
On Damico
"She was throwing as hard as she has in a long time. It was a different level today, she took it a notch up and that's what we need out of her."