University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Postgame Quotes - Tennessee 5, UCLA 4
Tennessee 5, UCLA 4 (9 inn.)
June 1, 2025
Devon Park (Oklahoma City, OK)
Womenโs College World Series
ย
Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach
opening statement
โFirst and foremost, I want to congratulate Tennessee. Just a great battle to the end, wish them the best of luck moving forward. For us though, I could not be more proud, period. The ability for us to be able to fight, the ability for us to come back, just down to the last pitch. Thereโs something about what UCLA softball can do with your backs against the wall, and just rising to the occasion to create some amazing memories. The experience game for my younger Bruins, for the Bruins who have been here before and who just showed who they are on the biggest stage, is something that Iโm proud of, and Iโm really excited for the future.โ
ย
on Meganโs home run to right field, followed by the review at home plate
โFirst of all, the ability to come together and say that we have the opportunity to win this game is something that we call Bruin Magic. It came together with the energy in the dugout, those kind of moments are things we live for at UCLA. The delay is something that Iโve never experienced, and what potentially could have happened, my mind was spinning too on how this would be devastating to have that happen. So, it was a long one, thatโs it. I just told everyone to hang tight and got clarity on a few things with what actually happened because I didnโt see it at the end of the day. How long was it? Fourteen (minute review)? Thatโs rough for that to have to happen, but bottom line, she hit the two-run home run and tied up the game, so Iโll remember that forever.โ
ย
on senior Savannah Polaโs final season
โThose are the types of things (are) why I love to coach. Itโs just difficult being a student athlete, especially when you play well. She had such a great freshman year, and then everyone kept on sayingโwhen she wasnโt as successfulโwhat happened to Savvy Pola? I told her thatโs the biggest compliment you can get, the standard is so high that they think somethingโs wrong. Itโs just the game at the end of the day; she wasnโt 100 percent, but itโs the game. The ability for her to finish out her senior year the way she did is, to me, whatโs going to propel her into life. Through the hard, through injuries, through all the noise of everyone saying โwhatโs wrong with you?โ. She actually went to work and she got really locked in to do whatever she could to help her team. Those are the things that make me proud, now sheโll forever remember that thereโs nothing thatโs too hard. This game can beat you up and actually make you doubt yourself on your ability to play softball, but for Savi Pola, she can leave (with her) shoulders back and chin up that she overcame it. She shined, she came through big time, and a big part of why weโre here is because of Savi Pola. I couldnโt be more proud, sheโs a great Bruin, sheโs going to continue her education at UCLA, and get into the masterโs program because sheโs trying to figure out if she can continue to give back to this sport in some capacity at the collegiate level. So, weโre excited to have her around and her experience.โ
ย
on leaving runners on base today and yesterday
โWith all due respect, I love that we were in that situation. Weโre facing some of the best arms in the game. In last nightโs game, NiJaโs (Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady) real. We hit her well, and we hit Karlyn Pickens well, we hit them well. Itโs the game, I wish they could all just be perfect and we couldโve scored 20 runs, but itโs not that easy to do. To get runners in scoring position is the name of the game. Quality at-bats put you in that position and everybody wants to come through in those big moments, but what we did against the arms, the teams, the brands, we just played the game. Unfortunately, sometimes you come through and sometimes you donโt; that doesnโt define you in that moment. This team came back and they fought again today against another great opponent. I told them, โYouโre going to be remembered for your fight.โ Nobody wants to play this team. To be able to get that outcome because we have the ability to score and to be able to come back and do some pretty crazy things at the end of the ballgame. That, to me, is what makes me so proud. To even have that comment as far as LOBโs, because those pitchers averaged double-digit strikeouts, and you didnโt see that. Thatโs a credit to the preparation in the athletes and their commitment to be able to do whatever it takes to win. With that, the sport is the sport, itโs kind of crazy. But Iโm really proud of their ability to do everything that they did.โ
ย
on the team locking back in after the review at home plate
โOur sport has changed. This review stuff, and even (in) game one, the feeling of what we were doing on the field, and having it go to review, the sport has just changed. Whatโs happening and whatโs going on, we wanted to get the plays right. That was the whole intention of instant review. We didnโt want it to be put on the umpire, who has human error, that they could do things. Then, we saw the flipside where they didnโt get the call right. Weโre constantly trying to elevate the sport and do whatโs right for the sport, so we implemented the instant review, and itโs part of the game now. ESPN, I know, doesnโt like it, especially those long delays, and a big part of why weโre so big right now is because of ESPN, so I appreciate the ability โ and the girls work so hard โ to try and get everything right. The delays are part of it, and the goal is to be able to make sure that they donโt leave any stone unturned, but they have the ability to take 14 (or) 15 minutes to try and figure out what the actual call is, so itโs kind of just a part of the game now.โ
ย
on Taylor Tinsley holding Tennessee for three innings
โI think one of my favorite moments actually (was) when she went in, I donโt have it exact, but there was a moment where I intentionally walked a hitter, and the girls all called a timeout and circled around her. Thatโs a clue that you saw right here, that they were together because it was a big moment. Yes, theyโre a very powerful team, and we got ourselves out of that inning, which was so huge. Those are the things where you say the experience gained kind of lights a fire. It lights a fire in your ability to want to come back and have a different outcome. The fact that they came together and found out a way to get out of that. Those momentum shifts and opportunities are why you want to come out and play on this stage. Iโm proud, KT (Kaitlyn Terry) actually competed, she might have missed on a pitch, but she competed. And I loved how she came out and competed today, and the fact that Taylor came in and had her back is a big part of what you saw from those two last year as well. The future is exciting because theyโre both very young.โ
ย
UCLA infielder Megan Grant
on her home run
โYou know, it was just kind of a blackout moment. I know going into that at-bat, I just wanted to keep my mind right and stay aggressive. Honestly, after the swing, I did blackout indeed, and after the fact, I kind of just trusted God with everything. The tensions were high, and thatโs just where I laid my pressure on.โ
ย
on most of the team returning next season
โWe have a pretty young team and everything, so I was just grateful that they got the chance to experience the stage. I was really happy to just see them do well. I think itโs just great motivation going into next year, and I just canโt wait.โ
ย
on their accomplishments as a pairing (with Jordan Woolery)
โI always say I have the best seat in the house with Jo, being behind her. She makes my job easy, she doesnโt really know it though. Just us together makes the challenges and obstacles that we go through easier. So, just having her by my side is one of the most important things when Iโm playing, so I just, I love you (Jordan).โ
ย
UCLA infielder Jordan Woolery
on most of the team returning next season
โYeah, I agree (with Grantโs statement), I think experience is the greatest lesson we can learn. Especially the freshman being on such a big stage and, like Meg said, thriving. I think it speaks volumes to how amazing they are and how bright our future is to come next year too.โ
ย
on their accomplishments as a pairing (with Megan Grant)
โIโm really sad we didnโt get to 50 (home runs as a pair), but Megโs just awesome. I think she makes it easy for me to be great, and especially in the game today, just knowing it wasnโt all on me to get the job done with two outs. I feel like if you have Megan behind you, itโs easy to feel a lot less pressure, so just getting on and letting Meg do the rest. As soon as she hit the ball, I just started crying, because it was such a good moment and such a combination of the whole year in one moment. So, it was really awesome to see, and weโll be back, 50โs coming.โ
ย
on her four hits against Tennessee starting pitcher Karlyn Pickens
โJust fighting for another day. I really wanted to play for the seniors today, doing whatever I could to get the job done. I think we had a really good game plan going in. Coach Lisa (Fernandez), Will (Oldham), and Bubba (Nickles-Camarena) did a great job preparing us, and I think hitting velo yesterday made us ready for the moment today.โ
ย
June 1, 2025
Devon Park (Oklahoma City, OK)
Womenโs College World Series
ย
Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach
opening statement
โFirst and foremost, I want to congratulate Tennessee. Just a great battle to the end, wish them the best of luck moving forward. For us though, I could not be more proud, period. The ability for us to be able to fight, the ability for us to come back, just down to the last pitch. Thereโs something about what UCLA softball can do with your backs against the wall, and just rising to the occasion to create some amazing memories. The experience game for my younger Bruins, for the Bruins who have been here before and who just showed who they are on the biggest stage, is something that Iโm proud of, and Iโm really excited for the future.โ
ย
on Meganโs home run to right field, followed by the review at home plate
โFirst of all, the ability to come together and say that we have the opportunity to win this game is something that we call Bruin Magic. It came together with the energy in the dugout, those kind of moments are things we live for at UCLA. The delay is something that Iโve never experienced, and what potentially could have happened, my mind was spinning too on how this would be devastating to have that happen. So, it was a long one, thatโs it. I just told everyone to hang tight and got clarity on a few things with what actually happened because I didnโt see it at the end of the day. How long was it? Fourteen (minute review)? Thatโs rough for that to have to happen, but bottom line, she hit the two-run home run and tied up the game, so Iโll remember that forever.โ
ย
on senior Savannah Polaโs final season
โThose are the types of things (are) why I love to coach. Itโs just difficult being a student athlete, especially when you play well. She had such a great freshman year, and then everyone kept on sayingโwhen she wasnโt as successfulโwhat happened to Savvy Pola? I told her thatโs the biggest compliment you can get, the standard is so high that they think somethingโs wrong. Itโs just the game at the end of the day; she wasnโt 100 percent, but itโs the game. The ability for her to finish out her senior year the way she did is, to me, whatโs going to propel her into life. Through the hard, through injuries, through all the noise of everyone saying โwhatโs wrong with you?โ. She actually went to work and she got really locked in to do whatever she could to help her team. Those are the things that make me proud, now sheโll forever remember that thereโs nothing thatโs too hard. This game can beat you up and actually make you doubt yourself on your ability to play softball, but for Savi Pola, she can leave (with her) shoulders back and chin up that she overcame it. She shined, she came through big time, and a big part of why weโre here is because of Savi Pola. I couldnโt be more proud, sheโs a great Bruin, sheโs going to continue her education at UCLA, and get into the masterโs program because sheโs trying to figure out if she can continue to give back to this sport in some capacity at the collegiate level. So, weโre excited to have her around and her experience.โ
ย
on leaving runners on base today and yesterday
โWith all due respect, I love that we were in that situation. Weโre facing some of the best arms in the game. In last nightโs game, NiJaโs (Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady) real. We hit her well, and we hit Karlyn Pickens well, we hit them well. Itโs the game, I wish they could all just be perfect and we couldโve scored 20 runs, but itโs not that easy to do. To get runners in scoring position is the name of the game. Quality at-bats put you in that position and everybody wants to come through in those big moments, but what we did against the arms, the teams, the brands, we just played the game. Unfortunately, sometimes you come through and sometimes you donโt; that doesnโt define you in that moment. This team came back and they fought again today against another great opponent. I told them, โYouโre going to be remembered for your fight.โ Nobody wants to play this team. To be able to get that outcome because we have the ability to score and to be able to come back and do some pretty crazy things at the end of the ballgame. That, to me, is what makes me so proud. To even have that comment as far as LOBโs, because those pitchers averaged double-digit strikeouts, and you didnโt see that. Thatโs a credit to the preparation in the athletes and their commitment to be able to do whatever it takes to win. With that, the sport is the sport, itโs kind of crazy. But Iโm really proud of their ability to do everything that they did.โ
ย
on the team locking back in after the review at home plate
โOur sport has changed. This review stuff, and even (in) game one, the feeling of what we were doing on the field, and having it go to review, the sport has just changed. Whatโs happening and whatโs going on, we wanted to get the plays right. That was the whole intention of instant review. We didnโt want it to be put on the umpire, who has human error, that they could do things. Then, we saw the flipside where they didnโt get the call right. Weโre constantly trying to elevate the sport and do whatโs right for the sport, so we implemented the instant review, and itโs part of the game now. ESPN, I know, doesnโt like it, especially those long delays, and a big part of why weโre so big right now is because of ESPN, so I appreciate the ability โ and the girls work so hard โ to try and get everything right. The delays are part of it, and the goal is to be able to make sure that they donโt leave any stone unturned, but they have the ability to take 14 (or) 15 minutes to try and figure out what the actual call is, so itโs kind of just a part of the game now.โ
ย
on Taylor Tinsley holding Tennessee for three innings
โI think one of my favorite moments actually (was) when she went in, I donโt have it exact, but there was a moment where I intentionally walked a hitter, and the girls all called a timeout and circled around her. Thatโs a clue that you saw right here, that they were together because it was a big moment. Yes, theyโre a very powerful team, and we got ourselves out of that inning, which was so huge. Those are the things where you say the experience gained kind of lights a fire. It lights a fire in your ability to want to come back and have a different outcome. The fact that they came together and found out a way to get out of that. Those momentum shifts and opportunities are why you want to come out and play on this stage. Iโm proud, KT (Kaitlyn Terry) actually competed, she might have missed on a pitch, but she competed. And I loved how she came out and competed today, and the fact that Taylor came in and had her back is a big part of what you saw from those two last year as well. The future is exciting because theyโre both very young.โ
ย
UCLA infielder Megan Grant
on her home run
โYou know, it was just kind of a blackout moment. I know going into that at-bat, I just wanted to keep my mind right and stay aggressive. Honestly, after the swing, I did blackout indeed, and after the fact, I kind of just trusted God with everything. The tensions were high, and thatโs just where I laid my pressure on.โ
ย
on most of the team returning next season
โWe have a pretty young team and everything, so I was just grateful that they got the chance to experience the stage. I was really happy to just see them do well. I think itโs just great motivation going into next year, and I just canโt wait.โ
ย
on their accomplishments as a pairing (with Jordan Woolery)
โI always say I have the best seat in the house with Jo, being behind her. She makes my job easy, she doesnโt really know it though. Just us together makes the challenges and obstacles that we go through easier. So, just having her by my side is one of the most important things when Iโm playing, so I just, I love you (Jordan).โ
ย
UCLA infielder Jordan Woolery
on most of the team returning next season
โYeah, I agree (with Grantโs statement), I think experience is the greatest lesson we can learn. Especially the freshman being on such a big stage and, like Meg said, thriving. I think it speaks volumes to how amazing they are and how bright our future is to come next year too.โ
ย
on their accomplishments as a pairing (with Megan Grant)
โIโm really sad we didnโt get to 50 (home runs as a pair), but Megโs just awesome. I think she makes it easy for me to be great, and especially in the game today, just knowing it wasnโt all on me to get the job done with two outs. I feel like if you have Megan behind you, itโs easy to feel a lot less pressure, so just getting on and letting Meg do the rest. As soon as she hit the ball, I just started crying, because it was such a good moment and such a combination of the whole year in one moment. So, it was really awesome to see, and weโll be back, 50โs coming.โ
ย
on her four hits against Tennessee starting pitcher Karlyn Pickens
โJust fighting for another day. I really wanted to play for the seniors today, doing whatever I could to get the job done. I think we had a really good game plan going in. Coach Lisa (Fernandez), Will (Oldham), and Bubba (Nickles-Camarena) did a great job preparing us, and I think hitting velo yesterday made us ready for the moment today.โ
ย