May 24, 2006

Game Three

(1) Rice 9, (8) UAB 3

Reckling Park - Houston, Texas

RICE

HEAD COACH WAYNE GRAHAM

On his team's overall performance

"We did the job. We got the hits when we needed them. A couple of the guys were hot with the bat. We're worried a little bit about Eddie because he's got to reestablish his command, but Bobby Bramhall did a good job when he came in."

On Eddie Degerman's command problems

"We're going to have to look at film and see if we can't figure out what's going on. Obviously, he is very hard to hit, but we're going to have to get a little more command.

"His delivery has to be pretty fined tuned because it's different. He throws way up high and behind his ear. The other guy that throws that way is Linceum at Washington, and he has control at times. We're hoping we can look at the film and Eddie can look at the film and we can figure some things out."

On Not Throwing Craig Crow in game one

"Crow is coming off a Tommy John surgery, and we don't feel right pitching him with four days rest. We want him to have the extra day."

On Brian Friday's 21-game hitting streak ending

"He's been phenomenal. He's not onlyhitting the ball, but he's hitting with power the last month of the season. He's been a great player for us."

DESIGNATED HITTER ADAM ZORNES

On his day at the plate

"I was just trying to take a good approach at the plate and work up the middle. He was doing a good job of mixing it up and pitching backwards to the other guys. I was fortunate enough to get some fastballs there and some hanging changing changups. So I just tried to stay up the middle and take some good swings."

On Rice's overall offensive performance

"Some of the key victories we've had - LSU is a good example. They go up 3-0 real quick nd we keep attling at the plate, Henley hits a home runa nd we're back in the game. I don't know if there's a particular point but we've always had confidence and believe in ourselves and we know we can get the job done."

On Brian Friday's 21-game hitting streak ending

"Brian Friday has been kind of the heart and soul of our team lately, but he struggled. But that just shows you how much depth we have thoughout our lineup. I think at one point, eight uys in our ntire lineup were hitting over 300 so if it's the first guy or the last guy, we're all going to have a good shot at getting a hit."

SECOND BASEMAN GREG BUCHANAN

On base-running mistake

"Actually, I didn't know it was going to be a home run. I didn't really hit it too good, but he wind was kind of taking it down towards the foul line and I was just running without my head up and watching the runner. I was just watching the ball the whole time. I should have had my head up and watching Henley, but it was one of those hard reads where you don't know. You're kind of in the middle there whether or not to go back and tag or if its going to be a hit. So it was a tough play. A tough read, but I should have had my head up watching the runner."

UAB

HEAD COACH LARRY GIANGROSSO

"We thought going in that we had to stay away from the big inning. Last time we played them we were able to do that, especially on Friday night with out lefty Jacob Legg pitching. We cut the lead to 3-2 and I thought one of the big plays in the game, that probably goes unnoticed, (Tyler) Henley kind of drags his bat a little bit and hits the groundball over second and we couldn't get him out. He has good speed. I thought that started things. I felt like we had an out there. We always say if we get the first out, the first batter, the inning is half over. Things just went awry from there. That stuck out in my mind. I thought that led to that big inning. Against Rice, they are so fundamentally sound in everything they do, you can't get to far behind."

"Our game plan was to go in and make everything manageable, leads manageable, not let certain players in their line up beat us. At times I thought we did a good job of that, except for that big inning. I guess that's why they are No. 1 in the country. They responded to the fact that we cut the lead and made it a game."