2024 WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

June 1, 2024

Mike White

Alyssa Washington

Mac Morgan

Texas Longhorns

Postgame Press Conference

Texas 10, Florida 0

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by Texas.

We'll start with an opening statement by coach.

MIKE WHITE: Obviously it was a good game for us. Florida is a very tough team. The way they've been hitting the ball the last several weeks, it's been impressive. I thought Mac Morgan did a great job setting the tone for the game. Then to be able to score straightaway, something we've been doing, always seem to be coming from behind. This last series we've been able to score runs early.

As I told the ladies, seven trips I've made, first time I've won that second game. Feels a lot better to be in this position than the other.

We know there's a lot of work ahead of us. There's other great teams coming through. Can't get too far ahead of ourselves and we'll be ready to play.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for players.

Q. Alyssa, how is it the second time around in the Women's College World Series?

ALYSSA WASHINGTON: Coming here my second time, it again is a blessing. Just being able to finish my career here, I'm thankful for it.

Coming here, we have a lot of girls that haven't been here before. So using the experience that I have, helping the girls calm their nerves. It is a big stage, so it gets pretty loud, overwhelming. Just being someone who has been there before, someone they could talk to.

Q. Alyssa, I got to talk to your mom. The emotions were evident. What does it mean to have her on this journey with you?

ALYSSA WASHINGTON: It means everything to have my mom here. That hit meant more than just the game. It was something I've been wanting to do ever since my first time coming here for my dad.

Making that hit, it was all honor to him. The ball being given to my mom, that made my life. That made my whole career. That was just a great moment.

For my mom to be there, I know my dad was watching as well, but my mom to get that ball just meant everything to me.

Q. How have you taken pride in the second half on your defense?

ALYSSA WASHINGTON: Yeah, it's just kind of recognizing where we're at on defense right now. Sometimes we make mistakes, but it's a matter of battling adversity, how we handle it, bouncing back.

Mac was throwing her butt off out there. Just being able to have her back, work for her, it felt great.

Q. Mac, can you talk about what was going right for you today. How were you seeing Florida?

MAC MORGAN: Honestly, I was just trying to produce groundballs for my defense because my defense showed up for me. It was my turn to show up for them.

My drop ball was working. I was looking for locations and trying to get my defense to work.

Q. Alyssa, talk us through the home run, what you saw on that pitch, how it felt.

ALYSSA WASHINGTON: Yeah, it all just began in batting practice, recognizing what I'm strong at, knowing what I wanted to hunt that game, recognizing what the pitchers throw, the Florida pitchers throw.

In that at-bat, yes, I was hunting my spot. I just told myself, no matter what, just compete.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, players. We'll continue with questions for coach.

Q. Could you go into why Mac's drop ball matches up?

MIKE WHITE: I can't give away all my secrets (smiling).

I thought that Kilfoyl threw an excellent game against them the night before. Kind of played into the decision to play Mac. Also her big-game experience. The last several weeks she's really stepped her game up.

I've talked before about challenging her about keeping the ball in the infield and using her defense. She's been able to do that. It's one of those ones where we start her, we have others the wings if we have to.

It's a game of inches. They hit a couple bullets in their first one. Ashton made a nice diving play, a couple other hard-hit balls. Sometimes the ball just bounces your way. Tonight it was our day.

Q. How much do you feel overcoming a lot of obstacles in super regionals prepared your team for this moment?

MIKE WHITE: Well, they talked about the adversity builds character. We hope that's what happens because it was really tough super regional, extremely tough. We were able to persevere being down multiple times. You hope that builds the character.

I like much better being out in front right now. It's a lot better on my hair and my gray, so...

Q. The other day Patty Gasso was weighing in on how she feels sad about the Pac-12 going away. Could you weigh in on what the SEC is going to be like when you and Oklahoma join the league next year.

MIKE WHITE: Well, I mean, if last weekend is anything to go by, it's going to be a really, really tough hoe to go through. I can see having 15 losses in that conference and still do pretty well. I mean, throwing Oklahoma in there, as well.

Softball is getting better. It's changing the way we think as coaches. I think we're having to use multiple pitchers. We've been blessed with that. We barely made the cut for making All-Region by having a hundred innings pitched. That's how much we used our pitchers. I think they may have to rethink that criteria for All-American.

Some teams obviously are using their pitchers a lot. We've been able to use multiple pitchers.

Going into that conference, again, that's next year. It's going to be very tough. I'm just hoping that it elevates the game of softball.

Q. Could you talk about the impact that Katie Stewart has on the offense.

MIKE WHITE: She could be like the unsung hero. Not that she's not unsung. Sitting behind Reese. Obviously Reese wouldn't see many pitches. They'd just walk her if we didn't have a productive hitter behind her. Katie has been able to do that. She had some little ups and downs. She's working hard on her game.

Excellent athlete. Got a cannon for an arm. We could put her at catcher, and we wouldn't lose anything. She's having to work at first base. That's been a struggle for her, to tell you the truth. She hasn't said anything about it. She's worked her way through it. She's getting more comfortable over there.

Q. How much does Mia add to the lineup?

MIKE WHITE: I think Mia could hit a home run almost on will. She just wants to hit the ball the other way a lot of times. She is an incredible athlete, one of the best ones I coached. Mia does what Mia wants to do. She's a wild card. That's the way she works.

I'm respective of that. As long as she stays within team rules, what we expect of her, she's a great player to coach.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.