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LSU HEAD COACH PAUL MAINIERI
On Oregon State ...
"I want to compliment the Oregon State baseball program and their coach, Pat Casey, for going out there today in that heat this afternoon and playing a three and a half hour game, then coming back tonight, falling behind 3-0 and fighting back the way that they did. I think they deserve a real tip of the hat. Their team has a lot of character and great leadership. They've had a great season."
On the victory ...
"Obviously, it was a tremendous victory for our team. It was truly a tremendous victory. This was a total team victory. It was tough. It was a grind out there, it really was. Ryan (Eades) was giving it everything he had. We had a great lead there in the first inning, with the way we started the game with Raph (Rhymes') homerun and so forth."
On pitchers ...
"Ryan (Eades) was competing really hard, but he just couldn't put them away with two outs. They came through with those hits, and suddenly we're down. I thought (Oregon State head coach) Pat (Casey) made a tremendous move going to his closer, (Scott) Schulz, right away. That kid just shut us down. He totally had us baffled there for several innings, but our kids never got discouraged. We had some tough at bats, but the kids just kept battling. They kept battling all the way through. I thought Nick Rumbelow was very key to the game, for him to come in and stem the tide there for us. I almost wish I had brought him in a batter earlier now. (Chris) Cotton gave us a great inning. What Nick Goody did, I tell you, that's true closing. To close a championship with a one-run lead and throw the ball the way he did. That's why you have to stick with people that have that kind of talent."
LSU SHORTSTOP AUSTIN NOLA
On drawing a walk to lead-off the 10th inning...
"I knew going up to the plate in that situation I needed to get on base for my team. I was facing a tough pitcher who had good stuff, and I fell behind early. I knew he had to throw it over the plate, and I just protected the plate. I was able to work a walk in a crucial situation."
On advancing to the Super Regional...
"It's very exciting, but we know we have to take it one step at a time here. We have very solid ball clubs all around us in the postseason, and we have to play our best every game. We did it tonight; we had to play a very tough ball club in Oregon State, and we have a lot of respect for those guys how they played. We just have to continue on, and take it one game at a time."
LSU RIGHTFIELDER ALEX EDWARD
On his RBI double in the ninth inning...
"I had been struggling all weekend, but when you have the crowd behind you and all your teammates behind you and getting a good pitch to hit and being able to barrel it up; there's no better feeling in the world."
On the crowd ...
"I can't even describe the feeling. Being in the stands is one thing, but having 10,500 people cheering and screaming behind your back; there's no better feeling than that."
LSU LEFT FIELDER RAPH RHYMES
On his home run in the first inning...
"I honestly was just trying to hit the ball. I had a rough weekend so far, so I was just really trying to put a good swing on the ball. It happened to leave the park, and it ended up being a pretty big hit."
On the crowd ...
"There wasn't a second that I doubted whether or not we would win. Growing up, coming to these regional games, and watching LSU baseball, I know how big of a factor the crowd is. I just knew we were going to come away with that win; I knew the crowd was going to will it. Our guys feed off that energy, and it proved it tonight."
