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May 31, 2002

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Notre Dame Head Coach Paul Mainieri

On today's game:
"It was a great game for us. We had a tremendous comeback in the seventh. Before that point, I knew we were still in the game, but we continued to swing the bats well and were able to come away with the victory. We now turn our attention to tomorrow."

On the importance of winning the first game:
"I think with this format, it is very crucial to win the first game. It is not impossible to come back if you lose, but it is always better to remain in the winners bracket."

Notre Dame 2B Steve Sollman

On Ohio State Pitching:
"I was waiting all day to really turn on the ball, but for the most part, we just took what they gave us and tried to drive the ball."

Notre Dame RF Kris Billmaier

On today's hitting:
"Hitting is contagious on this team. Thankfully, we did a great job in making contact and were able to pull out five runs in the seventh inning to take the lead."

Notre Dame Pitcher J.P. Gagne

On closing out the ballgame:
"It was really exciting to get the final out on a strike-three call, especially since that guy [Chris Snavely] hit a home run off me earlier in the ball game."

Ohio State Head Coach Bob Todd

On the game ...
"I thought it was a really well-played ball game for about the first six innings. Both teams were playing well and both were getting good pitching."

On momentum swings...
"I really thought that after Chris Snavely hit the homerun in the seventh- a two-run homer that gave us a 5-2 lead -- the momentum really swung into our dugout. I'll give Notre Dame credit that in the bottom of the seventh they got five or six hits and really picked up the momentum."

On key plays in the Irish seventh inning ...
"I thought that maybe we had an out at home on that passed ball and instead of being an out, it turned out to be a big, big play that gave them a couple of runs. The other play we made in that inning, that was almost back-to-back, was when Doug Deeds did not make that catch in right field. The ball gets away and not only did we lose an out out, but Notre Dame got another run. Those two plays changed the complexion of the whole game."

On balk calls...
"Every umpire said that they were going to be more observant, particularly on the righthanded pitchers' 'observable stop of the hands.' We had a lot more balks called this year. ... I think they put in a rule and they want the umpires to enforce it."

Ohio State LHP Josh Newman

On Notre Dame's seventh inning ...
"I ended up giving up a couple hits. (I was) trying to make some pitches to get in a position for a double play. It seemed like every pitch I was throwing, they were hitting hard."

Ohio State 2B Chris Snavely

On Ohio State's future in the regional ...
"We're kind of bummed out right now. We're down; we lost. But I think that it's more important for us to bounce back right now and put that all behind us. It's going to be tough, but we have to win the games."