Recap|Box Score|Notes|Photo Gallery
STANFORD
Head Coach Mark Marquess
(Opening statement): "It was a great game in obviously a championship game situation. I was very proud of Ryan McCally. He pitched a fantastic game. I was hoping for six or seven innings, and he gave us nine innings. I was proud of his effort. (Rice pitcher Jeff) Niemann did shut us down. We hit a couple balls hard, but the left fielder (Chris Kolkhorst) made a couple of great catches that took some scoring opportunities away from us. I hope we can come back and play well tomorrow afternoon. Rice played well. They did a great job. They have to beat us one more time. They're good. That's why they're here."
(on Stanford's outfielders being in position on several hard hit balls by Rice): "We don't have that much of a scouting report on Rice. We try to adjust more to how they're swinging toward our pitchers. A little information is dangerous, and we have little information to go on, so we just went on the fly."
Stanford Pitcher Kodiak Quick
(on the final play of the game): "Obviously it was a huge play, and I made a big mistake. It's something that we've worked on hundreds of times in practice. But, I was glad to get the chance to pitch tonight. Fortunately, it's a best-of-three series."
Third baseman Jonny Ash
(on facing Wade Townsend tomorrow after seeing Jeff Niemann tonight): "We just have to stay within ourselves and stick to our game plan."
Stanford starting pitcher Ryan McCally
(on his pitching performance): "Obviously it's disappointing to pitch well and have the whole team played well (and not win). A complete game is always the goal, but my philosophy the last three starts has been to get through five innings. Anything after that is great."
RICE
Head Coach Wayne Graham
(opening statement): "We feel extremely fortunate to have won this game. What (starting pitcher) Jeff (Niemann) did after a rough first inning was remarkable. Stanford came out and was hitting the ball very well. But we hung in there and then caught a break in the 10th inning. I'll take it. I'd like to have one more finish like we had in our last two games. Sometimes the things that turn out to be the most fun are also the most stressful, but that's the way it is. It looked like Stanford was going to bludgeon us to death, but we came out with a win."
(on his team's pitching staff): "We think (Sunday's starter) Wade (Townsend) has a great competitive spirit, so we feel like we have a shot to win. I was really afraid that (reliever) David Aardsma would have to pitch more than two innings tonight. We were able to win with him only having to throw two innings, so we aren't all used up. We think the pitching staff is still in good shape. All Jeff (Niemann) had to do was keep pumping and keep us in the game. I didn't think he would hold Stanford as well as he did. But he didn't allow any more runs and that was great."
Leftfielder Chris Kolkhorst
(on his defense): "I hurt my knee while chasing that foul ball in the first inning when I tripped over the bullpen mound. It's hard to get any sympathy from your teammates when you fall down like that. On the catch in the seventh inning, I was positioned well. I got a good jump on it, hit the wall, fell down and hung on."
(on scoring the winning run): "I really didn't know what happened. I was on second base and Austin (Davis) hit a little roller. I rounded third and just kept running until I touched home plate. I saw the guys running out of the dugout and I asked someone, 'Did we win?' I couldn't believe it."
Starting pitcher Jeff Niemann
(on his performance): "I was throwing my best stuff but they either fouled it off or got hits. Our defense played awesome and the offense was able to catch us up. Then Dave (Aardsma) came in and saved the day. I wasn't going to change my game plan because a few things didn't go right in the first inning. They are an awesome team that can really swing the sticks, but I had to keep with what got me here and the defense really picked me up time and time again. The play that Chris (Kolkhorst) made (on Danny Putnam's line drive to the left field wall in the eighth inning) was huge for us. It gave us momentum, and we needed it. I appreciate it."