June 22, 2005
Recap | Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery
59TH ANNUAL MEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Rosenblatt Stadium, Omaha, Neb.
Game Nine
Nebraska (57-15) vs. Arizona State (41-24)
Nebraska head coach Mike Anderson
(opening statement): "I think there are two emotions going through myself and probably our entire team. It was a tough loss, an emotional game. We still wish we were playing the game and our season. Give credit to Arizona State. Give credit to our kids for how they fought back in the ninth. Give credit to ASU for fighting back. Second is the fact that you never want to take for granted the opportunities we have at the University of Nebraska. I think we have a unique situation. Not a lot of schools in the north are playing this level of baseball. We're at the World Series this year because these players gave themselves up for this team."
(about the opposing leadoff hitter getting on base the past two games): "They're both good hitters. You tip your hat to them. If it was a problem we had all year long, I'd be concerned. We had some good matchups, but they just didn't work out."
(about whether he can appreciate the magnitude of the game he'd just played in or if it'll take some time): "It'll take some time. If we come out on top, I think I would appreciate this game more. I can tell you I appreciate this team and what it's done this year and what it's going to continue to do."
Nebraska right fielder Andy Gerch
(about home run in 9th inning): "I was up there just trying to put the bat on the ball. He hung a curve. I was trying to hit it the other way and got ahead of it a little."
(about the emotions of his home run): "We still had some game left. The way it was handled it seemed like it was over. I had to convince myself that the game wasn't over."
Nebraska relief pitcher Brett Jensen
(about the home run to Jeff Larish in the 9th inning): "I just wanted to come back with a good pitch. He hit a good pitch and it went out."
Nebraska shortstop Joe Simokaitis
(about the game): "It was a good game played on both sides. We each had 10 hits and it was a game decided by one run. Both teams played hard and fought hard. It just didn't go our way."
Arizona State Head Coach Pat Murphy
(opening statement)
"Oh man that felt big. It was four or five games in one. Nebraska baseball is real ... the fans, the environment. It's a testament to how much they care about their sports. Nebraska was tremendous but I'm kinda partial to our club. What can you say."
(on rallying in the ninth)
We got our guys together and said 'what does the crowd mean. It's nothing. It's sound.' Can you have a good at-bat in sound."
(ever been part of a better game?)
"Not on a bigger stage. It's Nebraska at Nebraska. That was special. Fullerton at Fullerton and all that at the Super Regional ... that was special. This today was almost unbelievable."
First baseman Jeff Larish
(on the win)
"We've been responding to adversity all year and today was no different. I'm more excited about the team's performance. This is such a great team to be a part of."
Center fielder J.J. Sferra
(on the game-winning hit)
"With a runner in scoring position, I was just trying to drive the ball somewhere. I didn't do that, unfortunately, but I got the barrel on the ball and got the break. That's the break and we're playing tomorrow."
(on getting doubled off in the bottom of the 9th)
"I didn't think he caught it and I just overreacted. I didn't really know what to do, being the immature freshman that I am."
Relief pitcher Zechry Zinicola
(on his performance)
I've been feeling under the weather the last couple of days. I was just trying to throw everything as hard as I could at 'em ... just trying to get us to the next day."