NCAA® 2007 Men's College World Series - Omaha, Nebraska

Fresno State Head Coach Mike Batesole
(opening statement): “That was a good college baseball game there. I think if you told me we’d hold that offense to seven with the arms we had, I’d take it. Give them a lot of credit. I knew with the arms we had, we wouldn’t strike out many, but I thought we’d have more strikeouts than one. Give them credit. They did a good job.

(about Brandon Burke pitching in the 8th inning): “He made some good pitches. He battled them with two strikes. One thing I didn’t like was the walk after the home run.”

(about whether his team is fatigued): “We’re fine. I think we could play another nine. We feel good.”

(about Georgia having more rest than Fresno): “They had their No. 1 pitcher ready to go. Somehow we’ll piece it together tomorrow. At least four of these guys (who pitched for Fresno) will throw again tomorrow. But Georgia credit. They earned this position.”

Fresno State right fielder Steve Detwiler
(about mindset of being in an elimination game again): “It was like this at Arizona State. We’ve been here before. I know we’ll do everything we can to come back tomorrow. It’ll be a dogfight.”

Fresno State third baseman Tommy Mendonca
(about mindset of being in an elimination game again): “We’ve been in it in the regional, super regional and here. We just have to go out there and play. We’ll walk out there with our heads up.”

(about being loose): “We’re a loose ballclub. If you’re uptight, that’s when errors and mental mistakes come. We need to be loose, calm and easy.”

Georgia Head Coach Dave Perno
(opening statement): “That was just a great college baseball game. It’s what you’d expect in a national championship series.  Fortunately, we have Beckham and Fields in our dugout because in big games great players step up.”

(on Josh Fields’ performance after last outing against Stanford): “After a tough outing against Stanford, when you come out the next time, that’s when your true character is revealed. Our team is resilient and able to respond. That’s what our team is all about.”

(on Beckham): “He’s a pretty special player. He’s called a bunch of shots throughout his career. A couple of guys have been on him about when he would hit his next home run and he said, ‘When we need it the most.’ He delivered.”

Georgia shortstop Gordon Beckham
(On his eighth inning home run) “My home run jumpstarted us, but it was Cerione, Lewis and Poythress who really stepped up tonight. I can’t say enough about the job those three guys did tonight. I’m very proud of them.” “I choked up half an inch on the bat after Burke’s first pitch strike. I knew he was going to throw a fast ball at some point but not that pitch. I had it in my mind that I was going to hit that 27th homerun when we need it the most. Tonight was a good night to do it, but we still have to come out and win tomorrow.”

(On how this CWS has been different that 2006) “In 2006, I only got one hit and it was an infield hit. This time around I have just been swinging the bat with more confidence. I know what to expect after going through a previous College World Series. I know what we want to do is win a national championship, and I am going to do anything I can do to help us do so.”

Georgia closer Joshua Fields
(On a clean pitched ninth inning) “I struggled with my control against Stanford. I was doing too much thinking out there. I tried to cut loose from my previous outings and go out there tonight and not be so fine with my pitches. I wanted to build on the good things that I did last outing.”