UNC 4, USC 0: Postgame Quotes

North Carolina evened the super regional series with a 4-0 win over USC on Saturday behind Jason DeCaro’s complete game shutout. DeCaro, head coach Scott Forbes and catcher Colin Hynek spoke to the media following the win. Scroll down for excerpts and to watch the full press conference.

Scott Forbes

“How about this big guy (Jason DeCaro)? I’ve been saying forever, I’m going to try not to cry, but Jason DeCaro, since the day he walked on campus, since the day he trusted us and gave up his high school senior year, he’s been nothing but phenomenal, and saved that biggest complete game for a big, big moment. So I’m most excited for him, that was a big win…

“Third base is a hard position to play. The ball’s on you quick, you have to learn to play lower. (Nicholson) embraced the heck out of it, man. He has made some unbelievable plays for us all season, to the point where if he doesn’t make a play… and that ball that was absolutely smoked at him, he didn’t make it, but that’s a tough play to make. But (the play to end the sixth) was a huge play right there. To get in there quick and make a good run through right there to make sure they didn’t get a freebie … Coop’s been good for us all year…

“I really trust my coaches. We trust each other. We’ll talk tonight. We’ll meet in the morning. Match-ups are important. We’re going to start either Caden Glauber or Folger Boaz – one of those two. Just need to watch a little bit more video, see the difference between right-handed and left-handed. When you get a big game like this, we’re going to have more than just Caden Glauber and Folger Boaz. Other guys are going to need to pitch and other guys are going to need to pitch well. One of those guys that I have a good feeling is going to be out there and throw really well is Walker McDuffie. I’ll probably make that decision in the morning, after about four cups of coffee.”

Jason DeCaro

“(I was) just getting ahead early. We figured that we would get ahead, they’re an aggressive team. So just going right after guys. Before that ninth inning, Coach Gaines came up to me, and he was just saying ‘you’re in control, so pitch like it, just go after them’. So just trying to get ahead and trying to get some quick outs…

“It took me a little bit to settle in today — but after the third inning, had a couple quick outs in that inning and came back in the dugout and told Coach Gaines that I felt way better right there than I did the first two. So just tried settling in (after that)…

“I think (the crowd when I walked out for the 9th) was huge. Gave me a little bit of adrenaline right there. Coach Gaines told me to use the crowd to your advantage, and it’s not about really executing the pitch, it’s just about getting after it out there for that ninth inning. So that was really big. I was just trying to get ahead and go after guys.”

Colin Hynek

“We’ve left quite a few guys on base, but we’re not going to put too much stock into that. We’re not going to let that get in our heads. We know that we’re talented, we know that we’re more than capable of doing that, and we’re a couple swings away from breaking this game open. Might as well save them for tomorrow…

“We knew (USC pitcher Grant Govel) threw a lot of strikes, knew that he was going to come right after us, so I was really just trying to be selective in my zone with a heater and get a good swing off on it. Being able to (hit the second inning HR) and being able to break through first after the game yesterday felt good. And anytime you have a lead with Jason on the mound, you feel pretty confident that you’re going to win that game…

“I think the main thing was it felt like almost every count was 0-1. The amount of first pitch strikes he threw today, and as the game went on, he really was executing to the spot that was called. He really, really locked in as the game went on, and at that point you know when J’s on, it’s hard to do anything against him.”