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Postgame Quotes - UCLA 5, South Carolina 4
UCLA 5, South Carolina 4
May 24, 2025
Carolina Softball Stadium (Columbia, S.C.)
NCAA Columbia Super Regional
Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach
opening statement
“At this point in the season, every opponent is tough. (South Carolina is) a tough opponent. But the ability for us to be able to play our game was the goal today, and it took a little longer than we expected. Taylor Tinsley did an outstanding job, her and Lefty (catcher Alexis Ramirez) pitched a gem of a game and kept us in the game, (which) allowed us to be able to find a way to come back. The one thing that I told the team was (that) we were going to get an opportunity to have the last punch today. We have a thing, we believe in ‘Bruin Magic’, and great things can happen when you come together and play as a team, so I’m very proud that we had the opportunity to get to tomorrow.”
on the back and forth with the fans after the game
“I literally just tried to just pull our people back in and ask them to really just focus on the girls. This is about the athletes, they have all earned the right to be here, and fans can come and cheer, and they do things. I don’t like seeing that because it takes away from the greatness that is on the field. South Carolina played an outstanding game, UCLA played an outstanding game. That’s what we’re here for, so I don’t like seeing that, but it's out of my control and I just try to do what’s in my control and pull my people back to focus on celebrating the (win) we just got.”
on mindset being down three in the bottom of the seventh with the season on the line
“I’m going to be honest with you, I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I love that time. Because, there is a strong belief in what we can do. You never want to put yourself in a position to have a game feel like it’s out of your reach. I always have a saying: ‘Give us one pitch, just one pitch. It’s not about three outs or the bottom of the seventh or what the score is, give us one pitch and anything can happen.’ I think that’s the brilliance of our sport. It’s not a time sport, You have an opportunity if you just have one pitch, and we’ve seen a lot of two-out, two-strike, big-time moments. Today happened to be the first pitch, and I’m proud of our Bruins. It starts with a quality at-bat, and that’s all we’re trying to do is pass the bat. I was in the dugout with Savi (Savannah Pola) and I was just saying that we just need one more person to get on and you (are) going to have a shot, and then KT (Kaitlyn Terry) smoked it. I was like, ‘Oh, there you go. You’re going to have a chance.’ That ability to be able to pass the bat, to answer your question, is why I love our sport. It’s down to the last pitch and you have to keep on watching.”
on what “Bruin Magic” is
“Bruin Magic is a belief, it’s a belief that anything can happen. We pulled together, and I talk about being able to get everyone going in the same direction, so there’s a lot of thought, a lot of emotion, there’s a lot of things that just happen in the past – past AB’s – or what you think could happen in the future that, if we don’t do this, we’re going to lose and our season is over. So, we really kind of focus on being in the moment, being where your feet are, and the Bruin Magic is literally just the belief that we will win this game. That’s something that has been a big part of the history of this program. It’s something that we have the ability – and we’ve seen it, we have experience in it. But to be able to have this team do it in this big moment is a big part of why you come to UCLA. We practice this. We practice this in the bottom of the seventh with an opportunity, then you have to really hone in and have quality at-bats and pass the bat. Together as a team from the dugout, to everybody who got to the plate, everyone was heading in the same direction with the belief that we could win this game.”
on Sofia Mujica’s home run and if that kickstarted the Bruins offense
“Like I had said before, the focus was about Jordan and Megan, and it’s when the bottom half does things when you see Sofia, a freshman, come to the plate and knock one out, I don’t think anyone expected that. But we know that, she’s a big–she actually leads the state of California in high school for home runs–with that, she’s got a big swing, so there’s times where she’s gonna miss. But to see her and to see Taylor Stephens come in–who’s been out all season and came back just for this–have a quality at-bat, and to see KT at the bottom half as she said, we have great confidence to come back at the top and that’s when UCLA softball is at its best.”
on importance of staying in the game despite working out of pitching jams
“Credit to Taylor Tinsley. She has been just a leader, she has been tough, she has had success, she has had disappointment. But she is prepared for this moment and she was so locked in and watching what happened yesterday and Lefty – our catcher Alexis Ramirez – the two of them, as we watched film and focused on things that the opponent did and things that we could have done better. I mean we locked into a gameplan and she executed today. She has been preparing all season for this moment and I’m so proud of her because her and (Ramirez) did just a great job of being able to call a great game, pitch a great game. Again, they are a tough opponent but she got herself out of jams and even that last run. Welcome to our crazy sport, right? A missed hit right in front of home plate, that’s out of her control. But credit to her that she locked back in and got out of that.”
UCLA infielder Jordan Woolery
on her walk-off home run
“Yeah, before I had a lot of time to just think to myself. I was praying before the bat. Bubba (Nickles-Camarena) said just be yourself and God’s got you and I think I really took that to heart. Coach (Inouye-Perez) always says the game comes back around. I’ve had a rough two days, so trusting that eventually is going to come through and I just wanted to have my teammates’ backs today.”
on soaking in the moment after her home run
“I just loved it, honestly. This team is built on love, and I think that came through today. It was a really special moment, and Tay’s (Taylor Stephens) leadoff walk, KT coming through, Jess (Jessica Clements) and Sav (Savannah Pola) at the top, I think it’s a really special group and a really awesome moment for all of us.”
on the message going into the bottom of the seventh
“Just having faith in my teammates in front of me. I think they did a really great job setting the table for me so just (I’m) just really grateful to have them in front of me.”
on if the cross-country travel has contributed to slower starts
“I think we’ve been used to the travel all year long. They’re a tough opponent, of course, that’s why they’re here and why they’re hosting a Super Regional. So, I think just playing our game and it showed today a little bit more.”
on mindset after South Carolina made a pitching change for her at-bat
“I was just happy for more time to take some breaths in between, honestly. I was happy to take a little time out and get my breath and get in the right headspace. Both pitchers did a great job these last two days so I have a lot of respect for both of them.”
on the momentum shift going into game three tomorrow
“I was just happy for more time to take some breaths in between, honestly. I was happy to take a little time out and get my breath and get in the right headspace. Both pitchers did a great job these last two days so I have a lot of respect for both of them.”
UCLA pitcher/outfielder Kaitlyn Terry
on the message going into the bottom of the seventh
“I would say for myself it was – Will (Oldham) told me that the first pitch is in your wheelhouse. So, I was going up there swinging no matter what and that’s what happened and got a base hit.”
on the momentum shift going into game three tomorrow
“Honestly, I think it hypes us up more than anything, just knowing that Bruin magic is a thing.”
on Taylor Tinsley pitching out of jams
“She was just being herself, spinning the ball, and being gutsy, honestly.”
on her big hit and if she felt the momentum shift at that moment
“Yeah, once I got the hit and saw that I was running around second all the way to third, knowing that Taylor scored, I knew we were going to win. We (had) the top of the lineup, and they got it done.”
May 24, 2025
Carolina Softball Stadium (Columbia, S.C.)
NCAA Columbia Super Regional
Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach
opening statement
“At this point in the season, every opponent is tough. (South Carolina is) a tough opponent. But the ability for us to be able to play our game was the goal today, and it took a little longer than we expected. Taylor Tinsley did an outstanding job, her and Lefty (catcher Alexis Ramirez) pitched a gem of a game and kept us in the game, (which) allowed us to be able to find a way to come back. The one thing that I told the team was (that) we were going to get an opportunity to have the last punch today. We have a thing, we believe in ‘Bruin Magic’, and great things can happen when you come together and play as a team, so I’m very proud that we had the opportunity to get to tomorrow.”
on the back and forth with the fans after the game
“I literally just tried to just pull our people back in and ask them to really just focus on the girls. This is about the athletes, they have all earned the right to be here, and fans can come and cheer, and they do things. I don’t like seeing that because it takes away from the greatness that is on the field. South Carolina played an outstanding game, UCLA played an outstanding game. That’s what we’re here for, so I don’t like seeing that, but it's out of my control and I just try to do what’s in my control and pull my people back to focus on celebrating the (win) we just got.”
on mindset being down three in the bottom of the seventh with the season on the line
“I’m going to be honest with you, I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I love that time. Because, there is a strong belief in what we can do. You never want to put yourself in a position to have a game feel like it’s out of your reach. I always have a saying: ‘Give us one pitch, just one pitch. It’s not about three outs or the bottom of the seventh or what the score is, give us one pitch and anything can happen.’ I think that’s the brilliance of our sport. It’s not a time sport, You have an opportunity if you just have one pitch, and we’ve seen a lot of two-out, two-strike, big-time moments. Today happened to be the first pitch, and I’m proud of our Bruins. It starts with a quality at-bat, and that’s all we’re trying to do is pass the bat. I was in the dugout with Savi (Savannah Pola) and I was just saying that we just need one more person to get on and you (are) going to have a shot, and then KT (Kaitlyn Terry) smoked it. I was like, ‘Oh, there you go. You’re going to have a chance.’ That ability to be able to pass the bat, to answer your question, is why I love our sport. It’s down to the last pitch and you have to keep on watching.”
on what “Bruin Magic” is
“Bruin Magic is a belief, it’s a belief that anything can happen. We pulled together, and I talk about being able to get everyone going in the same direction, so there’s a lot of thought, a lot of emotion, there’s a lot of things that just happen in the past – past AB’s – or what you think could happen in the future that, if we don’t do this, we’re going to lose and our season is over. So, we really kind of focus on being in the moment, being where your feet are, and the Bruin Magic is literally just the belief that we will win this game. That’s something that has been a big part of the history of this program. It’s something that we have the ability – and we’ve seen it, we have experience in it. But to be able to have this team do it in this big moment is a big part of why you come to UCLA. We practice this. We practice this in the bottom of the seventh with an opportunity, then you have to really hone in and have quality at-bats and pass the bat. Together as a team from the dugout, to everybody who got to the plate, everyone was heading in the same direction with the belief that we could win this game.”
on Sofia Mujica’s home run and if that kickstarted the Bruins offense
“Like I had said before, the focus was about Jordan and Megan, and it’s when the bottom half does things when you see Sofia, a freshman, come to the plate and knock one out, I don’t think anyone expected that. But we know that, she’s a big–she actually leads the state of California in high school for home runs–with that, she’s got a big swing, so there’s times where she’s gonna miss. But to see her and to see Taylor Stephens come in–who’s been out all season and came back just for this–have a quality at-bat, and to see KT at the bottom half as she said, we have great confidence to come back at the top and that’s when UCLA softball is at its best.”
on importance of staying in the game despite working out of pitching jams
“Credit to Taylor Tinsley. She has been just a leader, she has been tough, she has had success, she has had disappointment. But she is prepared for this moment and she was so locked in and watching what happened yesterday and Lefty – our catcher Alexis Ramirez – the two of them, as we watched film and focused on things that the opponent did and things that we could have done better. I mean we locked into a gameplan and she executed today. She has been preparing all season for this moment and I’m so proud of her because her and (Ramirez) did just a great job of being able to call a great game, pitch a great game. Again, they are a tough opponent but she got herself out of jams and even that last run. Welcome to our crazy sport, right? A missed hit right in front of home plate, that’s out of her control. But credit to her that she locked back in and got out of that.”
UCLA infielder Jordan Woolery
on her walk-off home run
“Yeah, before I had a lot of time to just think to myself. I was praying before the bat. Bubba (Nickles-Camarena) said just be yourself and God’s got you and I think I really took that to heart. Coach (Inouye-Perez) always says the game comes back around. I’ve had a rough two days, so trusting that eventually is going to come through and I just wanted to have my teammates’ backs today.”
on soaking in the moment after her home run
“I just loved it, honestly. This team is built on love, and I think that came through today. It was a really special moment, and Tay’s (Taylor Stephens) leadoff walk, KT coming through, Jess (Jessica Clements) and Sav (Savannah Pola) at the top, I think it’s a really special group and a really awesome moment for all of us.”
on the message going into the bottom of the seventh
“Just having faith in my teammates in front of me. I think they did a really great job setting the table for me so just (I’m) just really grateful to have them in front of me.”
on if the cross-country travel has contributed to slower starts
“I think we’ve been used to the travel all year long. They’re a tough opponent, of course, that’s why they’re here and why they’re hosting a Super Regional. So, I think just playing our game and it showed today a little bit more.”
on mindset after South Carolina made a pitching change for her at-bat
“I was just happy for more time to take some breaths in between, honestly. I was happy to take a little time out and get my breath and get in the right headspace. Both pitchers did a great job these last two days so I have a lot of respect for both of them.”
on the momentum shift going into game three tomorrow
“I was just happy for more time to take some breaths in between, honestly. I was happy to take a little time out and get my breath and get in the right headspace. Both pitchers did a great job these last two days so I have a lot of respect for both of them.”
UCLA pitcher/outfielder Kaitlyn Terry
on the message going into the bottom of the seventh
“I would say for myself it was – Will (Oldham) told me that the first pitch is in your wheelhouse. So, I was going up there swinging no matter what and that’s what happened and got a base hit.”
on the momentum shift going into game three tomorrow
“Honestly, I think it hypes us up more than anything, just knowing that Bruin magic is a thing.”
on Taylor Tinsley pitching out of jams
“She was just being herself, spinning the ball, and being gutsy, honestly.”
on her big hit and if she felt the momentum shift at that moment
“Yeah, once I got the hit and saw that I was running around second all the way to third, knowing that Taylor scored, I knew we were going to win. We (had) the top of the lineup, and they got it done.”