Postgame Quotes – UCLA vs. Grand Canyon
POSTGAME QUOTES
UCLA 12, Grand Canyon 1
Easton Stadium
May 20, 2022
The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez
opening statement
“First, I just want to congratulate GCU. What that university has done, the commitment to excellence, to be able to be in this Regional speaks a lot to what the coaches and players are doing over there. For us, Game 1’s always the biggest game, so to be able to come out and respond the way that we did, I saw patient hitters, I saw quality at bats, situational hitting, clutch – Lanie (Wisz) being Lanie. But the best part – and they say defense wins ballgames, even though this was a high-scoring game – I loved how Holly (Azevedo) pounded the zone. More impressive how she fielded her position. And I like, at the end of a ballgame, I would rather have her challenged and have people put balls in play then to have people get free passes. They earned a couple hits and I like that she pounded the zone. Great first day for UCLA.”
on offensive approach
“Exactly that. Patience – a lot of two-strike at bats that turned into walks. And that’s selfless. That’s being dialed in and literally having what we call quality at bats. So, yeah, I was really proud of that, especially on Day 1. There’s a lot of adrenaline, everyone wants to be able to swing it big and be able to hit it the way Lanie did. But be selfless, be able to have patience, created those opportunities so that they could pass bats and big things could happen tonight. So, it was a collective group. Not everyone got to get all the hits, but we were productive with our offense – even productive outs. Those are the type of things that you need to do here in the postseason.”
on team’s record-setting performances
“This team, in 2022, has been breaking records. Pitchers have been breaking records, offense has been breaking records, so I’m not surprised. And I think the best part about that is – and I’ve told the girls this, it’s no secret – a lot of people didn’t know who we were going to be in 2022, probably including us. To be able to do the things that they’ve done just shows that they are hardworking, they’re committed, we’ve recruited great student-athletes that are representing UCLA. And tonight, they got a payout by being able to play selfless ball, quality at bats, big-time swings, solid pitching and defense. That’s UCLA softball.”
on Holly Azevedo's athleticism
"Holly is a solid pitcher, but the athleticism she shows on those high chops that's not an easy play for anybody, let alone stereotypically a pitcher. I like that. And they work on it. Lisa (Fernandez) does a great job challenging them physically, mentally, and even their defense. They work on those things. Those things look spectacular, but it's what Holly's been doing her whole career. She fields her position."
R-Sr. INF Delanie Wisz
on being drafted and having 6 RBI
"Yeah, it's awesome. That's been a dream of mine since I started playing softball. For that to happen today of all days is pretty cool."
R-Sr. RHP Holly Azevedo
on being at Easton in the postseason
"Postseason is always really exciting, and we're so blessed to be here on our field. Last weekend was super special and memorable, so that was awesome, but now that we're back and it's postseason it's a whole different season, and we just need to go out and do our thing and play good softball."
UCLA 12, Grand Canyon 1
Easton Stadium
May 20, 2022
The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez
opening statement
“First, I just want to congratulate GCU. What that university has done, the commitment to excellence, to be able to be in this Regional speaks a lot to what the coaches and players are doing over there. For us, Game 1’s always the biggest game, so to be able to come out and respond the way that we did, I saw patient hitters, I saw quality at bats, situational hitting, clutch – Lanie (Wisz) being Lanie. But the best part – and they say defense wins ballgames, even though this was a high-scoring game – I loved how Holly (Azevedo) pounded the zone. More impressive how she fielded her position. And I like, at the end of a ballgame, I would rather have her challenged and have people put balls in play then to have people get free passes. They earned a couple hits and I like that she pounded the zone. Great first day for UCLA.”
on offensive approach
“Exactly that. Patience – a lot of two-strike at bats that turned into walks. And that’s selfless. That’s being dialed in and literally having what we call quality at bats. So, yeah, I was really proud of that, especially on Day 1. There’s a lot of adrenaline, everyone wants to be able to swing it big and be able to hit it the way Lanie did. But be selfless, be able to have patience, created those opportunities so that they could pass bats and big things could happen tonight. So, it was a collective group. Not everyone got to get all the hits, but we were productive with our offense – even productive outs. Those are the type of things that you need to do here in the postseason.”
on team’s record-setting performances
“This team, in 2022, has been breaking records. Pitchers have been breaking records, offense has been breaking records, so I’m not surprised. And I think the best part about that is – and I’ve told the girls this, it’s no secret – a lot of people didn’t know who we were going to be in 2022, probably including us. To be able to do the things that they’ve done just shows that they are hardworking, they’re committed, we’ve recruited great student-athletes that are representing UCLA. And tonight, they got a payout by being able to play selfless ball, quality at bats, big-time swings, solid pitching and defense. That’s UCLA softball.”
on Holly Azevedo's athleticism
"Holly is a solid pitcher, but the athleticism she shows on those high chops that's not an easy play for anybody, let alone stereotypically a pitcher. I like that. And they work on it. Lisa (Fernandez) does a great job challenging them physically, mentally, and even their defense. They work on those things. Those things look spectacular, but it's what Holly's been doing her whole career. She fields her position."
R-Sr. INF Delanie Wisz
on being drafted and having 6 RBI
"Yeah, it's awesome. That's been a dream of mine since I started playing softball. For that to happen today of all days is pretty cool."
R-Sr. RHP Holly Azevedo
on being at Easton in the postseason
"Postseason is always really exciting, and we're so blessed to be here on our field. Last weekend was super special and memorable, so that was awesome, but now that we're back and it's postseason it's a whole different season, and we just need to go out and do our thing and play good softball."