Arizona State 2, Michigan 1

ARIZONA STATE HEAD COACH LINDA WELLS
General comment:
"I thought we just played along there for a while for several innings. Erica (Beach) was obviously able to hold them to the run and I kept feeling like at some point we were going to launch things and we didn't. It all worked out even though we didn't launch anything. We were able to hang in there and do what we had to do to score. Erin Wardein kept us in the ballgame with the catch she made in left field early in the game and was able to get a hit which gave us a chance to do something."

On what she said to the team before the game:
"When the game was going along I was wishing I had said more. Obviously, I'm happy we won the game against a very talented opponent, but I didn't think we played perhaps our best. I didn't think we looked sharp at the plate."

ARIZONA STATE SENIOR ERICA BEACH
On her diving catch in the seventh inning:
"As far as the dive, I started hearing `Chariots of Fire' in the background and I just wanted to go for it. I wanted to do what I could to get out of the inning as fast as possible."

On pitching in the College World Series:
"As a pitcher, I love being out there. I love the crowds, I love the atmosphere, I love my team behind me on defense."

ARIZONA STATE SENIOR ERIN WARDEIN
On breaking out of a slump with two hits:
"I was just happy to do what I was able to do this game. It was nice to help the team out the way I was able to help them. It was a really good team win and like Coach said, we did what we had to do to win. We weren't really on as a team, but we found a way to do it."

MICHIGAN HEAD COACH CAROL HUTCHINS
General comment:
"Obviously, we're disappointed. I thought Marissa (Young) pitched a great game but I think Erica Beach pitched a great game as well. Before the game and during the game I thought we were as ready as we have ever been to play the first game of the World Series. Our kids were loose and their game approach was excellent. They were ready to come out to win but it ends up coming down to one play. The bottom line is that we did not swing our bats well. I didn't think we adjusted well during the game. We had runners on second base numerous times. Give Beach credit because she didn't give us the hit we needed to get. It's a tough loss but, like I told the kids, we're still in the tournament and our goal is to stay in the tournament."

On the difference in the game:
"We couldn't take advantage of their mistakes because they didn't make any and that was the key to the game. Before the game I was asked what the difference was going to be because we split during the year and I said the team that plays the best is going to win. I thought we played well but they played better."

On Arizona State's rally in the sixth inning:
"We had a couple of walks. We had a lead-off walk and you never like to have that. But I thought that Marissa pitched well to that batter. Then we had to pitch around a couple of their hitters. You have to pitch around (Beach) a little bit and I thought walking her was a good move because she's a good hitter. We knew (Erin) Wardein had got a double but I feel that (walking Beach) was still the best move to make and things just didn't go our way."

MICHIGAN JUNIOR PITCHER MARISSA YOUNG
On the game:
"It's a tough loss but I think my team played really good defense behind me. They had a lot of tough plays to make. Unfortunately it came down to an error."

On Arizona State pitcher Erica Beach:
"She was getting ahead of us early in the count and then keeping us off-balance with her change-up. I think we should have been a little more aggressive early in the count and taken her out of her game."

On taking a positive attitude into the next game on Saturday:
"Definitely, I think we stayed up throughout the game and we're going to continue to do that going into Saturday. We've been really enthusiastic and playing with a lot of energy all year."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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