May 23, 2008
ASU (60-5) 3, NORTHWESTERN (40-15) 1
ASU COACH Clint Myers
(On the importance of Kaitlin Cochran's home run, down 1-0 at the time.)
"It is a lot easier to play when you are winning."
"You always have a great chance to do well when Katie is in the circle. She is a tremendous competitor and a tremendous pitcher. We know going in what we have. Kaitlin Cochran had a big at-bat and she has had big at-bats for three years."
"It is the best team we have had without a doubt. The incoming freshmen have done a great job. The other ladies are a year older and are more mature."
(On if he would walk Burkhart) "Tell you tomorrow. They read the papers."
(On the cool weather) "I think we have played in just about every type of weather and prepared us for today. It wasn't nearly as bad as what we have played in before."
"I don't have to be on my best for our team to do a great job."
(On being a senior) "It is one of those times in your life you know you can't come back and do it again. I am taking it one step at a time, one pitch at a time, one game at a time and not trying to think about anything else. Just go out the best I can."
ARIZONA STATE'S Kaitlin Cochran
"I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit. She was pitching a great game against us. I was trying to get a good pitch to at least advance the runner.
NORTHWESTERN COACH KATE DROHAN
"I think tonight we tried to do a little too much against her (Katie Burkhart) tonight. She did a nice job of hitting some spots and even when she fell behind she was able to come back with some strikes. I thought she threw a good game. She is the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year for a reason."
"We are fortunate with the weather breaking the way it did. These conditions were pretty normal for us. The wind gusts were a little bit of an issue."
"We gave them too many base runners today. We have too put more pressure on them defensively. That is what this game is all about. Burkhart is going to have her strikeouts. But it is about making adjustments and putting more pressure on their defense.
NORTHWESTERN'S LAUREN DELANEY
(On Cochran home run in the third inning). "I missed my spot on that pitch."