Postgame Quotes – UCLA vs. Ole Miss
POSTGAME QUOTES
UCLA 9, Ole Miss 1
Easton Stadium
May 22, 2022
The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez
on losing the no-hit and shutout bid in the final inning
“We didn’t let up. We had the ability to keep going, which I think is the sign of really trying to play our best ball right now. Credit to Holly (Azevedo); she had an outstanding game. No-hitters are so unique. It’s very difficult to do that. Part of it is your defense has to have your back. It’s unfortunate. We lost an opportunity, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that we got the W today. One game, and we’re going to the Super Regionals.”
on hitting the ball well today
“I just credit this team. I think the journey this year has allowed us to have some real highs and some lows, and we kind of learned we’ve got to be focused and dialed in and work as a team. I have a very unselfish team. They don’t go up to the plate as individuals; they go up as a collective unit. They have goals. They want to pass the bat. They feed off each other, and they’re contagious. They pass information. Those are the types of things that can lead to a productive offense. Very team-oriented, very focused on what we’re going to do, and we got to see a lot of things we were hoping to get done today.”
on the bottom of the lineup hitting well
“It’s huge. I love it when you get to see different parts of the lineup contribute. But I also love seeing things like even Anna (Vine’s) journey. She’s a competitor. I’ve seen her win a national championship when she was 14 years old, and she’s clutch. So this was not something that we haven’t seen before, but she’s been challenged in games. She was hitting balls hard just a couple of weeks ago to end Pac-12 (play), and the game challenges her. I would say the game has a sick sense of humor sometimes because even when you’re hitting balls square, they’ll still get caught. But we talk about keeping the faith and staying positive, and she continues to focus on her approach and being able to be true to herself. And I think literally that was the payout of Anna Vines being Anna Vines on a timely fashion on a big stage. Couldn’t be more proud of the outcome.”
on advancing to their eighth consecutive Super Regional
“I’m going to credit the program. It’s been over 30 years of UCLA Softball with the high expectation. It’s not about me or even this current team. It’s about the history of the program, and the standard is high. We go out and recruit Bruins that love that standard. Pressure is a privilege. It’s hard. Standards are hard. But we love it. Very proud of UCLA Softball, proud of this team and their journey, and I love that they’re playing their best ball right now. That’s the best part about postseason. There’s the ability to come together and play as one. I think it’s contagious. I think we love being here, they’re ready to play, everybody wants to be the one, and we’ve been battle-tested. A lot of highs, a lot of lows. Now is the time to just be the best version of yourself, and you guys got to see that today.”
on Holly Azevedo’s performance this year
“I said this from the beginning. I’m so proud of what Holly has been able to accomplish and how she’s been able to help her team this year because she’s been the most unselfish Bruin. To be able to be on a team that has a Rachel (Garcia) and has a Megan (Faraimo) and has a Holly … we’ve had depth in the circle. And then come back for her fifth year to be able to support the program, I am so, so grateful, and I love that the game is paying her back because once again, it’s no surprise that she’s doing what she’s doing. We knew she was capable of that, but very unselfish in continuing to fight and figure out what she can to help the team. She’s a huge part of 2022. Couldn’t be more proud.”
on Savannah Pola’s contributions as a freshman
“Just being Savannah Pola. The most fun year is being a freshman. You can just come in and play. Yeah, we have high standards because she’s done some phenomenal things and has been hitting some game-winners for us and has been clutch and has been recognized for it as a freshman. But I just want her to continue to enjoy. That spotlight isn’t on her, her team loves her, she’s a very selfless player and just a scrappy player, and she can beat anyone in the country. But being a freshman is fun, especially on a team that has some veterans that have experience to take on the responsibilities of really showing her what it means to be a Bruin, especially in postseason.”
R-Sr. RHP Holly Azevedo
on if she knew she had the no-hitter going into the fifth
“I did, but at the end of the day, we got the win and advanced to the Super Regionals, so I was happy about that.”
on watching the team close the win from the dugout
“It’s good. Like I said, we have such a deep staff that if I ever need help, Megan’s got my back and vice versa. If she needs my help, I’ve got her back. We got ourselves into this situation, and we got out of it, so it’s good.”
on playing a bigger role this year
“Just having the opportunity this year to help my team out has been a blessing.”
R-Jr. UTIL Anna Vines
on hitting her first home run of the season
“I just wanted to do anything I could for the team. Obviously it’s a good feeling, especially going into home with all of my teammates, but to be honest it’s just good to help our team win.”
on the double play to end the second inning
“I think one thing I love about Lanie (Wisz) is that she communicates before every pitch. We had actually talked about running a double play earlier before the game, and we practice it all the time. So it was awesome to get it done during the game.”
on how much confidence the pitching staff gives her
“It’s real easy when Holly or Megan (Faraimo) or our other pitchers strike people out. It makes it really easy on us defenders. When they’re really attacking the zone, you can take a step back and not be so stressed about it. It’s nice having a good set of pitchers.”
UCLA 9, Ole Miss 1
Easton Stadium
May 22, 2022
The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez
on losing the no-hit and shutout bid in the final inning
“We didn’t let up. We had the ability to keep going, which I think is the sign of really trying to play our best ball right now. Credit to Holly (Azevedo); she had an outstanding game. No-hitters are so unique. It’s very difficult to do that. Part of it is your defense has to have your back. It’s unfortunate. We lost an opportunity, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that we got the W today. One game, and we’re going to the Super Regionals.”
on hitting the ball well today
“I just credit this team. I think the journey this year has allowed us to have some real highs and some lows, and we kind of learned we’ve got to be focused and dialed in and work as a team. I have a very unselfish team. They don’t go up to the plate as individuals; they go up as a collective unit. They have goals. They want to pass the bat. They feed off each other, and they’re contagious. They pass information. Those are the types of things that can lead to a productive offense. Very team-oriented, very focused on what we’re going to do, and we got to see a lot of things we were hoping to get done today.”
on the bottom of the lineup hitting well
“It’s huge. I love it when you get to see different parts of the lineup contribute. But I also love seeing things like even Anna (Vine’s) journey. She’s a competitor. I’ve seen her win a national championship when she was 14 years old, and she’s clutch. So this was not something that we haven’t seen before, but she’s been challenged in games. She was hitting balls hard just a couple of weeks ago to end Pac-12 (play), and the game challenges her. I would say the game has a sick sense of humor sometimes because even when you’re hitting balls square, they’ll still get caught. But we talk about keeping the faith and staying positive, and she continues to focus on her approach and being able to be true to herself. And I think literally that was the payout of Anna Vines being Anna Vines on a timely fashion on a big stage. Couldn’t be more proud of the outcome.”
on advancing to their eighth consecutive Super Regional
“I’m going to credit the program. It’s been over 30 years of UCLA Softball with the high expectation. It’s not about me or even this current team. It’s about the history of the program, and the standard is high. We go out and recruit Bruins that love that standard. Pressure is a privilege. It’s hard. Standards are hard. But we love it. Very proud of UCLA Softball, proud of this team and their journey, and I love that they’re playing their best ball right now. That’s the best part about postseason. There’s the ability to come together and play as one. I think it’s contagious. I think we love being here, they’re ready to play, everybody wants to be the one, and we’ve been battle-tested. A lot of highs, a lot of lows. Now is the time to just be the best version of yourself, and you guys got to see that today.”
on Holly Azevedo’s performance this year
“I said this from the beginning. I’m so proud of what Holly has been able to accomplish and how she’s been able to help her team this year because she’s been the most unselfish Bruin. To be able to be on a team that has a Rachel (Garcia) and has a Megan (Faraimo) and has a Holly … we’ve had depth in the circle. And then come back for her fifth year to be able to support the program, I am so, so grateful, and I love that the game is paying her back because once again, it’s no surprise that she’s doing what she’s doing. We knew she was capable of that, but very unselfish in continuing to fight and figure out what she can to help the team. She’s a huge part of 2022. Couldn’t be more proud.”
on Savannah Pola’s contributions as a freshman
“Just being Savannah Pola. The most fun year is being a freshman. You can just come in and play. Yeah, we have high standards because she’s done some phenomenal things and has been hitting some game-winners for us and has been clutch and has been recognized for it as a freshman. But I just want her to continue to enjoy. That spotlight isn’t on her, her team loves her, she’s a very selfless player and just a scrappy player, and she can beat anyone in the country. But being a freshman is fun, especially on a team that has some veterans that have experience to take on the responsibilities of really showing her what it means to be a Bruin, especially in postseason.”
R-Sr. RHP Holly Azevedo
on if she knew she had the no-hitter going into the fifth
“I did, but at the end of the day, we got the win and advanced to the Super Regionals, so I was happy about that.”
on watching the team close the win from the dugout
“It’s good. Like I said, we have such a deep staff that if I ever need help, Megan’s got my back and vice versa. If she needs my help, I’ve got her back. We got ourselves into this situation, and we got out of it, so it’s good.”
on playing a bigger role this year
“Just having the opportunity this year to help my team out has been a blessing.”
R-Jr. UTIL Anna Vines
on hitting her first home run of the season
“I just wanted to do anything I could for the team. Obviously it’s a good feeling, especially going into home with all of my teammates, but to be honest it’s just good to help our team win.”
on the double play to end the second inning
“I think one thing I love about Lanie (Wisz) is that she communicates before every pitch. We had actually talked about running a double play earlier before the game, and we practice it all the time. So it was awesome to get it done during the game.”
on how much confidence the pitching staff gives her
“It’s real easy when Holly or Megan (Faraimo) or our other pitchers strike people out. It makes it really easy on us defenders. When they’re really attacking the zone, you can take a step back and not be so stressed about it. It’s nice having a good set of pitchers.”