Arizona may be out, but Lopez is not down

OMAHA, NEBRASKA - Arizona may be out of this year&#39;s College World Series, but coach Andy Lopez is not down.<br> <br> After the Wildcats were eliminated from the CWS with a 3-1 loss to Georgia on Tuesday, Lopez was still reveling in even making it to the series with a young squad in just the third year he&#39;s coached at Arizona.<br> <br> Lopez guided the Wildcats to the CWS for the first time since 1986 when it won the national championship under coach Jerry Kindall.<br> <br> Lopez knows what it&#39;s like to have won it all, taking the national championship in 1992 with underdog Pepperdine. He returned to the CWS as coach of Florida in 1996 and &#39;98.<br> <br> ``Boy, oh, boy there&#39;s nothing like coming to this part of the country this time of year,&#39;&#39; Lopez said. ``I hope to goodness if they ever move this tournament from this site I&#39;m no longer coaching. I wouldn&#39;t want to go anyplace other than Omaha.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Even though the Wildcats leave the series with a 1-2 record, Lopez said the experience was a valuable one for his young team.<br> <br> ``I&#39;m glad they&#39;re here for the seniors, and for the underclassmen, hopefully we&#39;ll get back,&#39;&#39; Lopez said.<br> <br> Arizona (36-27-1) began the season with just five seniors, eight juniors and 21 freshmen and sophomores. Of the 11 players who got into Tuesday&#39;s game, only third basemen Moises Duran is a senior. One freshman, five sophomores and four juniors all saw action.<br> <br> Despite its youth, the team had its most wins this year since 1989, when it won 45.<br> <br> ``We&#39;re very proud of what we&#39;ve done,&#39;&#39; Lopez said.<br> <br> Tuesday&#39;s loss was the second time in this year&#39;s CWS that Arizona lost to Georgia, having fallen to the Bulldogs 8-7 in Friday&#39;s opening game.<br> <br> Lopez said he thought Georgia closer Will Startup was off his game when he came on in the seventh inning. Startup was extremely effective in recording the save for Georgia in the first game against Arizona.<br> <br> ``I don&#39;t think he&#39;s the same guy as Friday night,&#39;&#39; Lopez said he told his team before Startup found his groove in pitching three innings of shutout ball. ``Those are my famous last words in Omaha.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> For this year, at least.