June 17, 2005
Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery
Arizona State Head Coach Pat Murphy
(opening statement) "In a weird way I'm happy for Nebraska to get its first win here. The fans were unbelievable. The next time we're in this type of environment - it'll probably be in three or four days. After that it will probably be if they have the opportunity to go to the major leagues - maybe in a playoff environment. The baseball game wasn't real special. I wasn't impressed by us. We gave them opportunities. We walked six and hit two. Might have walked seven. Eight of the nine led to runs. We didn't do things offensively that we needed to do to win.
(about pulling starting pitcher Jason Urquidez after two innings): "I talked it over with the pitching coach. Sometimes you have to make a move. I saw he was in trouble and I didn't think it was the kind of trouble he was going to be able to pitch out of. His trouble was he was behind in the count over and over. He didn't have breaking stuff. It isn't the time of year that that can happen."
(on pulling Zechry Zinicola after five innings): "I know Zin is really capable. I knew we were either going to use him 100 pitches in the fifth or 110 pitches in the 6th - and then I was going to zap him. I didn't want to risk it. I know Zech is capable of being very special."
Catcher Tuffy Gosewisch
(on being behind) "We've been here before. We were here last weekend. It's something this team can handle. It's hard to come back. I think you have to take one game at a time. I think it's easier to do that than to look at the entire tournament."
(on whether Jason Urquidez was laboring): "I don't think he was laboring. He didn't have his command. His control in and out he didn't have. We made the decision to go to Zech."
Designated Hitter/Pitcher Zechry Zinicola
(on going into the game after two innings tonight): "Coach asked if I was ready. I thought I was mentally and physically prepared to go into the game."
Third baseman Joey Hooft
(on the environment): "I played Texas in an opening game before, but this is the loudest game I've ever played in. They like to see baseball. They're not vulgar fans. It's not a negative for me."
Nebraska Head Coach Mike Anderson
(opening statement)
"I'm proud for our kids. There was a lot of hype and a lot of expectations about this game and a lot of things going on. I'm happy we got through the third inning and focused in on the game."
(on getting the school's first-ever CWS win) "For us the win is important because it's the 2005 world series. It got us a chance to advance."
(on his team's approach to the game) "I don't know if I can describe it. The mood, the conversation on the bus over here ... I was very pleased. I don't want to keep too loose but everything just felt great. Being nervous is okay but you want to settle into the game. I was pleased with our approach for a big-game atmosphere."
Second baseman Ryan Wehrle
(on hit big hit in the sixth)
"I was put in a good situation at the plate. I looked for a good pitch to hit and I put a good swing on it."
Pitcher Joba Chamberlain
(on the win)
"It's not any different than any other win. It's a bigger stage but you still have to go out and make your pitches like you've been doing all year."
(on his performance after walking the first batter) "After that I settled down and everything was grooving from there."