2021 WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

June 3, 2021

Sydney Sherrill

Lonni Alameda

Florida State Seminoles

Postgame Press Conference

UCLA 4, Florida State 0

THE MODERATOR: This is the Game 4 press conference for Florida State. We are joined by student-athlete Sydney Sherrill. Questions, please.

Q. What are the challenges when you have to face a pitcher of the quality of Rachel Garcia?

SYDNEY SHERRILL: I think the challenge, just knowing she's a good pitcher, she's going to beat you, but not giving up, keep battling, focusing on the one pitch that you're sitting, trying to get her at some point.

I think as a lineup we did a pretty good job. We kept battling, stayed in it, got some hits here and there. Just couldn't piece them together.

Yeah, I think a little more fight would have been more, I guess, enjoyable on our part.

Q. Kathryn Sandercock, another outstanding performance in the circle for you guys. What have you seen from her in the last few weeks, or all season?

SYDNEY SHERRILL: Yeah, I mean, she's pitched amazing. She pitched an amazing game today. Some lucky hits here and there. That was the difference.

But she pitched amazing. Props to her. She's an amazing pitcher. We're going to keep playing behind her, keep battling up there.

Q. The last time you guys were here, you went through almost the same scenario, lost to UCLA in the first round, then came back to win it all. The ability to bounce back, is that something you and Anna can help your team do as you move forward?

SYDNEY SHERRILL: Yeah, I think just looking forward and looking to the next pitch, the next team we're facing. We have Arizona first. Just focusing on that game, those next pitches in that game, not looking too far ahead. Just enjoying these moments with our teammates. If we do that, and fight, I think we'll be in a good place.

Q. You mentioned Arizona. You played them three times in March. What can you take away from those games? What are the keys to beating them?

SYDNEY SHERRILL: Yeah, I think those were some early on good games, really good post-season experience early in the season. I think that was good experience for our team being a little young. Yeah, I mean, I think we have film on them. We have our at-bats. We just need to study up, focus on the next pitch, like I said, see what we can do.

Q. Through the motion of the game, what did you learn about your team's grit?

SYDNEY SHERRILL: Yeah, I mean, I think up at the plate we did battle. We had some really good at-bats throughout our lineup. Like I said, we did get the hits, but we just didn't piece them together, which sometimes that's the game. It stinks.

Yeah, I mean, we had some good at-bats, and we can take those and move forward with that.

She's a great pitcher. To put up those at-bats against her was pretty good, especially from some of our young players, which is awesome.

Just moving forward, looking at Arizona, trying to keep battling against some great pitching.

THE MODERATOR: Sydney, thank you very much.

SYDNEY SHERRILL: Thank you.

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by head coach Lonni Alameda. Questions for Coach.

Q. When you face a pitcher of the caliber of Rachel Garcia, obviously it becomes critical to cash in on every opportunity. How important was it that you missed some opportunities early in the game to plate a couple runs?

LONNI ALAMEDA: I mean, obviously that's kind of been our MO here as of late, situational hitting, putting at-bats together. We create momentum by putting at-bats together. I thought we did a pretty good job.

I think coming in, you know she's good, but she was definitely juiced up, throwing it pretty hard today. If we could get some deep counts, make her work, maybe later in the ballgame we could get one.

We were in it. She executed some good pitches. They made some great defensive plays, too.

Q. As you look forward to Saturday, what kinds of things can you take away from this game? What can you look at in the tape that can help you?

LONNI ALAMEDA: Yeah, I mean, it's survive and advance. Been here before. We know what it's like.

Really happy with Kat. I'm happy with the defense. We were loose, having fun. Really good ballclubs here. Only one person is going to walk away with the last W.

You have to go with the mindset one pitch, keep fighting. Of course, you start to feel that frustration a little bit because you want to do so well, the players want to do so well. You got to put that in your pocket and get after that fight mentality.

We're scratching for our lives right now. I think that's quite fun. But it's going to be tough. Arizona is a tough ballclub. We just got to be about them, pitch by pitch for there.

Q. How much does playing an Arizona team, it was a long time ago, help you in this situation on Saturday?

LONNI ALAMEDA: Yeah, I mean, it definitely helps. You have some familiarity, you know what they're look. It's one thing to watch people on video, it's another to be live against them, see the way they swing.

What a great ballclub. We got them on the back half of a 10-day trip. We know they were probably a little tired. The whole reason is for them to get on the road and see what it's like. You get to a World Series, you got a 10-day trip. That's what they planned their trip around.

But very excited to play them. What a storied program. Great coaching staff. Great players. They have an amazing senior class. Just really looking forward to that. I know as a coach and players, it's an honor to be here, an honor to play these kinds of teams.

Q. What do you see as the keys in that game?

LONNI ALAMEDA: The keys to what?

Q. The keys for your team in that game to advance.

LONNI ALAMEDA: Against Arizona?

Q. Yes.

LONNI ALAMEDA: Yes, score runs, probably be some good stuff. Play some good defense.

Again, I mean, do what we've been doing all along, what got us here. Have some fun, get some timely hits. They're going to be in the same boat. Their back's against the wall, too. I think the team that plays the loosest, can take advantage of the opportunities, is playing the next game.

But all we can control is the pitch that's ahead of us. Just be present in the moment, just compete until we can't go any more.

Q. You talked about staying in the present. Some things can linger on. How do you keep your players focused?

LONNI ALAMEDA: I think we're fortunate because we play a long season, so we get a lot of opportunity to really deal with at-bats that add up. It's a game of failure, so failure is going to be on shoulder, especially offensively. It's on your shoulders. We have to have those talks, game 20, game 30, game 40. We got so many games to talk about.

Be where your feet are, be in the box, be present, battle. With all of our players, we've had those talks many times through the season.

Now as a unit we got to get together and bring it, bring it as a unit. I know our upperclassmen will speak on behalf of that, Syd will speak on behalf of that. Like back's against the wall, bring it every pitch.

Q. What do you like about the way Caylan and Kathryn complement each other in the circle?

LONNI ALAMEDA: Yeah, I mean, I think we've got three different pitchers with three different looks. So Kat being a down ball pitcher. She's worked really hard this year on the rise ball. So we were able to bring the rise ball in today too.

Caylan has been very -- very good rise ball, but she's developed her change-up and her drop ball. She's able to compete there.

They're able to bring different looks in that sense. Then you put Watson in there with a heavy, heavy fast ball and a really good off-speed rise ball. We have three different looks, which is really nice to have.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Coach.