As much as UC Irvine kept saying that they all felt out of character due to playing in front of over 19,000 fans for the first time in their careers, they didn't play like it. I don't want to say that they used it as an excuse, because I'm sure they did feel that way. But it's mre of a compliment to them for not playing that way, even if they felt like it.

Starter Scott Grogen said he was out of breath when he was out there, but not in a medical kind of way. It was more of a full of a motion, can't catch your breath type feeling. And it was understandable.

He gave up three longballs but pitched well, going seven plus innings, giving up eight hits, five runs, while striking out nine and throwing 119 pitches.

Head coach Dave Serrano was very happy with his team's performance.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about," Serrano said. "This was a very good baseball game between two very good baseball teams. I told my team after that I'm sure everyone would like to do one or two things differently, including myself, but we can't put our heads down. That was a great college baseball game."

That basically sums up what this was. ASU starter Mike Leake did just enough to keep his team in the game, as the freshman gave up a four spot in the fourth, but that was it. He went seven innings, giving up six hits, four runs, while walking none and striking out three. Although he did he three batters, which is out of his element.

Pat Murphy was proud of his team.

"It was a great ball game. I'm excited to see [Irvine] here and you can see why they are here. I think it was a matter of the team who batted last wins. We started well. Our pitching staff is pretty underrated, and I'm proud of our ball club."

Ike Davis, who hit the game winning homerun in the 8th inning to break a 4-4 tie, says it was about time that he came out of a slump.

"I fixed some things mechanically and it worked," Davis said.

Murphy agreed.

"He puts a lot of pressure on himself. He has more than 60 RBI and he still thinks he's struggling. Today was a matter of him sticking with it."

Player of the Game would have to go to Davis, for breaking that tie with a huge clutch homerun to leftcenter. Grogen said after the game that it was actually the best changeup he threw all day and felt that Davis was sitting dead changeup. The best part was, when Davis was asked the question, he said he was actually sitting fastball all game, he just sat back and waited for it.

Give a gameball to ASU reliever Jason Jarvis, who actually picked up the win, for shutting down UC Irvine in the final two innings. Jarvis didn't allow a hit or a run while striking out three. Murphy did a great impression about Jarvis, saying that his reliever actually asked him what inning it was, and thought he only had to throw one, thinking the 8th was the 9th. But he didn't care. He seems like the type of kid that will go out there and throw as long as needed until coach tells him not to anymore.

So another team making their CWS debut loses in their first game, as it hasn't happened since 1994. This year, the debuting teams are 0-for-2, with L'ville losing yesterday.

The way coach Serrano talked after the game, I get the feeling this team is still going to make a run in this tournament. They are certainly not out, and aren't until that last out is made and they are down on that scoreboard this week. They'll come back with a strong pitcher in Wes Etheridge, who will give them a good chance to win against either Fullerton or Oregon State.

Meanwhile, ASU brushed aside any thoughts of them falling fast in this tourney, with a very good win against a very good Anteaters team. They'll now face the winner of tonight's nightcap on Monday.

Once again, your final score, Arizona State 5, UC Irvine 4.

Pregame festivities and lineups to come for the Beavers and Titans.