June 1, 2007

Recap |  Box Score

­Arizona State Head Coach Pat Murphy

On the game:

"The first thing I think of is the job this guy [Flores] did right next to me.  The second thing I think is that it was a great environment here tonight.  We didn't string things together the way we needed to.  We didn't hit singles the way we needed to.  What an atmosphere.  We're playing not to lose and [Monmouth] is playing to win.  You have to give Monmouth a lot of credit.  There is a reason they've won 30 whatever games.  There is a reason that they've played us so tough.  That pitcher was outstanding.  If it wasn't for some timely hitting, Ike's two-run homer, we'd have to create some runs some other way. [It was Flores'] 21^st start of the season.  What an outing, what a performance.  I'm really proud of our guys.  It is not an easy situation to be in.  When you have everything to lose, the seed hanging on you.  It is a difficult situation.  If you don't believe it, look through the score here [of other teams].  I'm proud of our club.  This is not a time to get down on our club."

On nerves:

"They were trying too hard.  We had 5,000 people.  That's the biggest crowd we've had all year.  These guys are playing with nothing to lose.  Monmouth is coming in here to slay us, so to speak.  Our guys were a little tense. That's normal, that's college baseball.  But they hung in there and did what they needed to do.  They got the job done.  You win in many different ways.  There were a lot of one run ball games out there today.  It could change the complexion of the whole college tournament."

Outfielder Ike Davis

On Monmouth Pitcher Brach:

"I had three at bats against him.  The first at bat he threw me up inside with a fast ball, so the rest of the game he got in there, so he would come back in there in the next couple at bats.  I got it and put a good swing on it.  I tip my cap to him.  He did a great job." 

Monmouth Head Coach Dean Ehehalt

On the game against ASU:

"Good game.  It went right down to the last pitch.  I don't know if anyone else expected that, but that's the way we thought it would go.  We played against an extremely talented team and it came down to the last pitch.  We couldn't be prouder of our guys.  Brad [Brach] was outstanding tonight.  He pitched his heart out.  There were a couple balls that got up.  You have to tip your hat to their hitters.  Every pitch, you are sitting on egg shells.  Brad pitched one heck of a game.  What more could you ask for."

On playing Nebraska:

"Solid team.  Nebraska has played in Omaha.  Fine ball club.  I think that anyone that gets to this level, especially coming out of the Big 12 is a fine ball club.  We'll continue to do the things we've done all year, try to play the game instead of the other team.  I think we did a real good job of that tonight.  We'll try to do the same thing tomorrow."

On the personality of the team:

"You saw it tonight.  That's our personality.  We've been like that since day one.   In February...I made a comment that this was a unique group of guys and I think we are going to surprise some people and here we are June 1^st and I think the same thing holds true.  Just a great group of guys.  They do a lot of things together.  I appreciate the way Arizona State plays.  I was fortunate enough to watch them play in the College World Series a couple years ago.  We talk about the level of enthusiasm they play with and how they pick each other up.  We talk about that.  I think we've got some kids that believe in that.  This couldn't be a better place for us to come to.  There couldn't be a better environment." 

Pitcher Brian Brach

On pitching:

"It felt pretty good tonight.  I only had one pitch.  I only had a fast ball.  Usually I have a fast ball change up.  I was able to spot that.  It is frustrating when the ball gets up in the wind.  It is a tough place to pitch, I'll tell you that.  You throw a couple balls up and they make you pay for it.  It is a great atmosphere to play in.  I was pumped up from the beginning.  I just went out there and pitched the best I could.  It was a good game at the end."