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Postgame Quotes - UCLA 5, South Carolina 0
UCLA 5, South Carolina 0
May 25, 2025
Carolina Softball Stadium (Columbia, S.C.)
NCAA Columbia Super Regional
Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach
opening statement
“Yes, just first and foremost, just a hard-fought battle. Just a lot of respect for what South Carolina pulled together. They were a tough opponent. We had to show up and we had to play, we had to compete. Coming from coming back from what we did on Friday, because they handled it clearly on Friday. But, the ability to come back and beat an opponent like that makes this even more rewarding. So, a lot of credit to what South Carolina has done through the entire season to get to this point. But for my Bruins, I couldn't be more proud. We believe there's work, they play together, they have each other's backs. And the biggest part of all of this is we set out from the start, as every team in the country does, but to be able to be a final eight is something that is a goal, and the ability to overcome day one is because they were so committed to the process, and it allowed them to be able to take a trip back to OKC. So, I'm super excited for that.
on the team getting over the hump and going back to Oklahoma City
“I think the whole season is a journey. I don't know if there's humps. It's more about just the journey. It's the process. There's no easy path, so, every opponent that you play can beat you. So, you've got to be able to step up and play your game. We have been challenging ourselves to be able to just get to the ability to play our game, regardless of the outcome, or regardless of the score, or the opponent, or the time of year. And this team has gone through a lot. We've succeeded, we’ve failed. We've dealt with our own adversity and have come together, and it's what UCLA does, and it's a really big part of it, I believe, is the strong leadership. (Having) some experienced Bruins that understand that it's always hard, it's always hard, and to be able to pull a team together, to be able to play in big moments like this is not an easy task. But, that's a credit to like, we say, the Bruin Magic belief, but it's the people that we recruit, the student athletes that we recruit come to UCLA for these moments, to be able to come together and have the opportunity to get back to OKC. So, I couldn't be more proud for this group to answer your question.”
on how hard it is to step into a program and have success in year one (in reference to South Carolina head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard)
“Absolutely, and I'm going to be honest with you, I don't know the whole journey. Obviously, the ability to do what she did in a conference that is respected, it's a lot of opponents in there, and to be able to do that with a staff and the way they play ball. You know, they did a great job of preparing, they did a great job of executing. So, top down, it starts from the head coach coming up with game plans (and) getting their athletes to commit. They had some clear strategies of what they were trying to do with the game plan, and it worked for them. So, I think with that being said, there's a lot to build from, and that's the hardest part of the sport right now. You know, to be in your first year is always a challenge. I know that personally, so to be able to get to this point so quickly is, it says nothing but great things about what this program can do.”
on if the confidence from the win yesterday carried over into today
“I'm going to say this. We own the fact that we didn't play our game on Friday. So, with that being said, regardless of the score, and it was a big one, but we look back at video and we just didn't play our game on the offensive side, on the defensive side, pitching-wise, we just didn't play our game. And then every game is just an individual game, and we're looking pitch to pitch. Saturday happened to be whatever it was, but we're never comfortable with being ahead or feeling like you need to come from behind. We are competing every single pitch on both sides of the ball, and at this time, you know, throughout the entire season that doesn't change. We're always trying to win, we're always trying to have quality at-bats, we're always trying to throw strikes. But then you learn. I think one of the biggest things about us is (that) I'm proud of my pitching staff. Hitters are always making adjustments, and it's tough, because they got to counter multiple pitchers, and they had great arms. But on the pitching side, it's tough to go day one at times in a series, because you go out with your plan and then you learn. But the ability to adjust…we did a lot of studying. We held ourselves accountable, we knew we needed to stretch in certain areas, and we needed to attack a certain way, and we had a completely different game plan for today. But the ability to do that as a pitching staff, that everyone was accountable and figured out how they needed to be better, and we set game plans and they were able to execute is a big part of the success, because we know we've got to stop the opponent and we’ve got to outscore them, but the ability to make adjustments is probably the biggest thing that I say, is the strength of this team. I'm very proud of their ability to make adjustments, and that takes practice. So, I think Coach Lisa (Fernandez), Coach Will (Oldham), Coach Bubba (Nickles-Camarena), and Coach Rob (Schweyer). My staff has done an outstanding job of preparing this team to be able to adjust. They know what their strengths are, they have the ability to make adjustments, they commit to it, there's a lot of trust, and they put themselves in a position to get back to Oklahoma.”
on seeing a familiar opponent in Oregon on Thursday to open the WCWS
“Well, I think the best part about it for us, is we know we didn't play our game that weekend. So, we're a different team. We are an entirely different team. We have a lot of respect for Oregon and (Melissa Lombardi), I would call her, you know, definitely can't say that we're friends, but I do. I could pick up the phone and call her at any time. So, I feel with that being said, there's a great deal of respect. But at this point, we're not playing Oregon, we're just playing the next opponent that we're going to try to face. So, we're going to go to school, we're going to make adjustments. I think the best thing for us is (that) we all know that we were not at our best in that weekend, so I look forward to that. We're a different team. We've got a different grit about us, different focus, and we're playing to win. So, and – we know this already – everybody that's there has earned it. They have fought their way to earn it. So, it doesn't really matter what your regular-season stats or outcomes were. We’re to play and we've got to show up, and the biggest focus you'll hear us constantly say is playing our game. So, I look forward to that opportunity.”
UCLA infielder Savannah Pola
on if there was Bruin Magic today
“Oh yeah, just a belief, and leaning on each other. And I think that’s the big part is that when we’re facing adversity, we’re not separating and getting down on ourselves. We lean in and we have each other’s backs. If one person doesn’t get it done, then the next person will have their back.”
on the relief of adding the extra runs in the seventh inning
“Yeah, just knowing that, like, it's never enough, we have to keep going and pushing and never letting up. And I think that (yesterday) was a good example. Two outs, bottom of the seventh, so, you just can never relax. You just always have to be on it.”
UCLA pitcher/outfielder Kaitlyn Terry
on if there was a different feel heading into today
“I think, honestly, just spinning the ball and trusting my stuff.”
on if there was Bruin Magic today
“I think from the start, there was Bruin Magic. Even on Friday, we all, like, still came together. We didn't have the outcome we wanted. But I think no matter what, we have Bruin magic all the time.”
on the relief of adding the extra runs in the seventh inning
“I think, honestly, really relieving as a pitcher. Just having the hitters give us runs (and) them punching in the first inning was even better. I think just knowing that I need to have my hitters back, and I'm on the hitting side too, but just knowing that I got to show my stuff in the circle.”
on South Carolina’s deep flyouts to right field in the sixth inning
“Yeah. I mean, they got on the pitch, but I knew Liesl (Osteen) was going to be there, so at the end of the day, she was there.”
May 25, 2025
Carolina Softball Stadium (Columbia, S.C.)
NCAA Columbia Super Regional
Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach
opening statement
“Yes, just first and foremost, just a hard-fought battle. Just a lot of respect for what South Carolina pulled together. They were a tough opponent. We had to show up and we had to play, we had to compete. Coming from coming back from what we did on Friday, because they handled it clearly on Friday. But, the ability to come back and beat an opponent like that makes this even more rewarding. So, a lot of credit to what South Carolina has done through the entire season to get to this point. But for my Bruins, I couldn't be more proud. We believe there's work, they play together, they have each other's backs. And the biggest part of all of this is we set out from the start, as every team in the country does, but to be able to be a final eight is something that is a goal, and the ability to overcome day one is because they were so committed to the process, and it allowed them to be able to take a trip back to OKC. So, I'm super excited for that.
on the team getting over the hump and going back to Oklahoma City
“I think the whole season is a journey. I don't know if there's humps. It's more about just the journey. It's the process. There's no easy path, so, every opponent that you play can beat you. So, you've got to be able to step up and play your game. We have been challenging ourselves to be able to just get to the ability to play our game, regardless of the outcome, or regardless of the score, or the opponent, or the time of year. And this team has gone through a lot. We've succeeded, we’ve failed. We've dealt with our own adversity and have come together, and it's what UCLA does, and it's a really big part of it, I believe, is the strong leadership. (Having) some experienced Bruins that understand that it's always hard, it's always hard, and to be able to pull a team together, to be able to play in big moments like this is not an easy task. But, that's a credit to like, we say, the Bruin Magic belief, but it's the people that we recruit, the student athletes that we recruit come to UCLA for these moments, to be able to come together and have the opportunity to get back to OKC. So, I couldn't be more proud for this group to answer your question.”
on how hard it is to step into a program and have success in year one (in reference to South Carolina head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard)
“Absolutely, and I'm going to be honest with you, I don't know the whole journey. Obviously, the ability to do what she did in a conference that is respected, it's a lot of opponents in there, and to be able to do that with a staff and the way they play ball. You know, they did a great job of preparing, they did a great job of executing. So, top down, it starts from the head coach coming up with game plans (and) getting their athletes to commit. They had some clear strategies of what they were trying to do with the game plan, and it worked for them. So, I think with that being said, there's a lot to build from, and that's the hardest part of the sport right now. You know, to be in your first year is always a challenge. I know that personally, so to be able to get to this point so quickly is, it says nothing but great things about what this program can do.”
on if the confidence from the win yesterday carried over into today
“I'm going to say this. We own the fact that we didn't play our game on Friday. So, with that being said, regardless of the score, and it was a big one, but we look back at video and we just didn't play our game on the offensive side, on the defensive side, pitching-wise, we just didn't play our game. And then every game is just an individual game, and we're looking pitch to pitch. Saturday happened to be whatever it was, but we're never comfortable with being ahead or feeling like you need to come from behind. We are competing every single pitch on both sides of the ball, and at this time, you know, throughout the entire season that doesn't change. We're always trying to win, we're always trying to have quality at-bats, we're always trying to throw strikes. But then you learn. I think one of the biggest things about us is (that) I'm proud of my pitching staff. Hitters are always making adjustments, and it's tough, because they got to counter multiple pitchers, and they had great arms. But on the pitching side, it's tough to go day one at times in a series, because you go out with your plan and then you learn. But the ability to adjust…we did a lot of studying. We held ourselves accountable, we knew we needed to stretch in certain areas, and we needed to attack a certain way, and we had a completely different game plan for today. But the ability to do that as a pitching staff, that everyone was accountable and figured out how they needed to be better, and we set game plans and they were able to execute is a big part of the success, because we know we've got to stop the opponent and we’ve got to outscore them, but the ability to make adjustments is probably the biggest thing that I say, is the strength of this team. I'm very proud of their ability to make adjustments, and that takes practice. So, I think Coach Lisa (Fernandez), Coach Will (Oldham), Coach Bubba (Nickles-Camarena), and Coach Rob (Schweyer). My staff has done an outstanding job of preparing this team to be able to adjust. They know what their strengths are, they have the ability to make adjustments, they commit to it, there's a lot of trust, and they put themselves in a position to get back to Oklahoma.”
on seeing a familiar opponent in Oregon on Thursday to open the WCWS
“Well, I think the best part about it for us, is we know we didn't play our game that weekend. So, we're a different team. We are an entirely different team. We have a lot of respect for Oregon and (Melissa Lombardi), I would call her, you know, definitely can't say that we're friends, but I do. I could pick up the phone and call her at any time. So, I feel with that being said, there's a great deal of respect. But at this point, we're not playing Oregon, we're just playing the next opponent that we're going to try to face. So, we're going to go to school, we're going to make adjustments. I think the best thing for us is (that) we all know that we were not at our best in that weekend, so I look forward to that. We're a different team. We've got a different grit about us, different focus, and we're playing to win. So, and – we know this already – everybody that's there has earned it. They have fought their way to earn it. So, it doesn't really matter what your regular-season stats or outcomes were. We’re to play and we've got to show up, and the biggest focus you'll hear us constantly say is playing our game. So, I look forward to that opportunity.”
UCLA infielder Savannah Pola
on if there was Bruin Magic today
“Oh yeah, just a belief, and leaning on each other. And I think that’s the big part is that when we’re facing adversity, we’re not separating and getting down on ourselves. We lean in and we have each other’s backs. If one person doesn’t get it done, then the next person will have their back.”
on the relief of adding the extra runs in the seventh inning
“Yeah, just knowing that, like, it's never enough, we have to keep going and pushing and never letting up. And I think that (yesterday) was a good example. Two outs, bottom of the seventh, so, you just can never relax. You just always have to be on it.”
UCLA pitcher/outfielder Kaitlyn Terry
on if there was a different feel heading into today
“I think, honestly, just spinning the ball and trusting my stuff.”
on if there was Bruin Magic today
“I think from the start, there was Bruin Magic. Even on Friday, we all, like, still came together. We didn't have the outcome we wanted. But I think no matter what, we have Bruin magic all the time.”
on the relief of adding the extra runs in the seventh inning
“I think, honestly, really relieving as a pitcher. Just having the hitters give us runs (and) them punching in the first inning was even better. I think just knowing that I need to have my hitters back, and I'm on the hitting side too, but just knowing that I got to show my stuff in the circle.”
on South Carolina’s deep flyouts to right field in the sixth inning
“Yeah. I mean, they got on the pitch, but I knew Liesl (Osteen) was going to be there, so at the end of the day, she was there.”