2024 WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

May 30, 2024

Mike White

Teagan Kavan

Bella Dayton

Texas Longhorns

Postgame Press Conference

Texas 4, Stanford 0

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Texas.

We'll take an opening statement from Coach.

MIKE WHITE: Obviously congratulations to Stanford making the College World Series and NiJaree Canady for becoming the Player of the Year, USA Player of the Year. Tremendous award and well-deserved.

We knew it was going to be a tough matchup. She is as tough as they come. Obviously it was good to get out there and get a couple of runs up, being able to get those extra runs in the last innings.

Hats off to Teagan, threw extremely well. Freshman, shutout against one of the best clubs in the country. Couldn't be any prouder than her.

Of course, our players came through with some situations as well with some runners on base.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You talked about how important it was for teams to be able to adapt to this tournament. Have a freshman come in on opening night, what does that do for your team?

MIKE WHITE: Well, it's a good start. That's what you want. We've been really kind of struggling a little bit, to tell you the truth, with some starting pitching the last few weeks. I think they're growing week and week, getting tougher, learning from this environment.

Adversity creates opportunity. Teagan has come through. Each time she goes out there, I think she gets stronger. Our next pitcher up, I don't know who that's going to be yet, but hopefully they learn off of what happened tonight.

Q. Teagan, was there anything that went into tonight? You looked comfortable.

TEAGAN KAVAN: I think last week honestly helped a lot when I came into a big situation to come here. I think that calmed me. I knew I was prepared. I've been in front of a big stage before. Just kind of staying locked in with Reese the whole time, calming my nerves, breathing, really focusing on my breath.

Q. Mike, facing someone like NiJaree, how much does it help out with the speed your team has?

MIKE WHITE: Well, that's kind of our MO. It's what we do. We try to find ways to win.

Comes from my fastpitch days for men. I told the ladies, sometimes you would strike out 15 times, but you'd find a way to get runs and hang on to them.

Same thing here. You're not always going to hit home runs. Played Arkansas in a super regional, had all these home runs, but we were able shut them down with changeups and drop balls.

You have to be able to adapt against good pitching and find ways to score runs.

Q. Teagan, it was a little while since last time you played Stanford. Did you feel any different this time around?

TEAGAN KAVAN: I think the approach is a little different. I was glad I had film to go back and look over against them. I think we're both different teams from February. I think it's a different approach. It's a bigger stage here. I think everyone comes with a different fight.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Bella, now that she's joined us.

Q. Pretty successful against NiJaree with players in scoring position.

BELLA DAYTON: Just committing to our plan. We talked about so much on what we're hunting, what we're looking for. Obviously communicating throughout each at-bat. Relaying that message on throughout the lineup. That's kind of what we did today.

Just whenever I went up there my second time through, what was I better at off of a pitcher like her, that's what we stayed with. That's kind of how we executed.

Q. Bella, when you're in that situation, how much confidence does it give you guys when you have Teagan on the mound?

BELLA DAYTON: I mean, we're confident behind any pitcher that is up on the mound. We just know as an offense we need to do our job. It doesn't have to be in the first inning. We have seven innings to play.

Staying confident and communicating throughout the lineup, passing the bat, relaying the message on what we're seeing, what we're looking for, what it looks like.

Again, definitely very confident behind all our pitchers. Tonight was just a really fun game to start off the World Series.

Q. Teagan, everybody talks about Reese and her bat. Talk about her as a catcher.

TEAGAN KAVAN: Yeah, she makes a big difference on the field. She's always locking me in, she knows when to call timeout at the same time. She knows what I need every single time she comes out and talks to me. I'm glad to have her out there. Before the game we talk, she helps me center myself and be where my feet are.

Q. What has been the most impressive part about Teagan's development since she arrived?

MIKE WHITE: Yeah, I think just learning to calm her nerves. It's a challenge sometimes when you're nervous. It's a good thing. We talk about it. It's part of the adrenaline, to get going. If you don't have nerves, you're not firing, getting ready to go play. She's been able to kind of channel those things into energy and be able to control it. I just like that growth. I'm excited to see how she does coming into the rest of the tournament.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Texas.