June 4, 2010

FULLERTON, CA -

STANFORD HEAD COACH MARK MARQUESS
"It was an outstanding game. New Mexico impressed me with their hitting. They came up with big hits and big stops."

"Both [starting] pitchers pitched very well. Jordan [Pries] was tired at the end, and that's when they started swinging well."

On the challenge of tomorrow: "It's always difficult. If you're going to lose your first game, at least let it be the early game. If you don't play well, you get beat."

On the number of walks: "You can't do that with good teams and at this time of year."

STANFORD PITCHER JORDAN PRIES
"My outing was just OK."

"We were trying to keep them off balance with a mixture of pitches."

"I wasn't executing on those pitches."

"Early on I felt sharp, but lost focus."

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NEW MEXICO HEAD COACH RAY BIRMINGHAM
"We feel very fortunate to have beaten Stanford and a coach I have admired for 20 years."

on sea level: "We do not change our approach. I'm a line drive, contact, don't strike out much guy. We looked like ninth graders against seniors... our guys are not as big as theirs, but we can hit with anybody in the country and it has nothing to do with altitude.

on disparity in bases on balls: "We walk a lot... partly because they know we can hit. Plate discipline is really important."

NEW MEXICO FIRST BASEMAN JUSTIN HOWARD
"We strive to hit well with two outs. We battle and come after you. Today, we had one big inning and it proved to be the difference."

on history: "We're playing for everyone who has played for New Mexico and gotten close.

NEW MEXICO PITCHER JASON OATMAN
on history: "We want to make this a better program... for the people behind us to have something to strive for.

on overlooked team: "Stanford didn't throw their ace at us... they planned to win over us and use their ace tomorrow.

NEW MEXICO OUTFIELDER CHRIS JUAREZ
on `happy to be here?': "We played a tough schedule... Arkansas, Texas and TCU... we played tough teams. Coach said we're going out there to win a regional."