Postgame Quotes – UCLA vs. Florida State
POSTGAME QUOTES
UCLA 2, Florida State 1
Auburn, Ala. (Plainsman Park)
NCAA Auburn Regional
June 5, 2022
UCLA head coach John Savage
opening remarks
“I just think Kelly Austin was the story. He stepped up. He’s been stepping up all season in a lot of different roles. He fought a really good Florida State team that was very dangerous in this ballpark. You have to tip your hat. He kept us in the ballgame. And then Kyle (Karros) comes up with a big hit in the seventh, and then Carson (Yates) follows with a big hit in the ninth. It wasn’t easy. It was a good ballgame. At the end of the day, we pitched well and we put up enough zeroes.”
on Sunday afternoon’s 2-1 pitching duel
“Well, pitching and defense gets you to Omaha. That’s been the formula forever and ever and nothing’s really changed. I know that there’s a lot of offense out there, but at the end of the day you have got to pitch and play defense and score more runs than the other team.”
on the performance from UCLA’s bullpen
“I don’t love running the closer out there when it’s 1-1 and we’re the visiting team in the eighth inning, but it’s do or die. It was just a situation where we needed a couple zeroes. Luke Jewett had done his job, and (Jake) Saum had done his job by putting up a zero in the seventh. We turned the ball over to Alonzo (Tredwell), and we were fortunate that Carson (Yates) hit the home run in the ninth.”
on advancing to Sunday night’s contest
“I just think that, you always have to beat the one (seed) to win a regional. And, there have been 99 percent of the regionals where you’ve got to beat the one. So, this isn’t unfamiliar territory for us. And certainly, this is why we made the trip.”
on facing No. 1-seed Auburn
“I mean, clearly they are very, very offensive. They have put up 40 runs in the first two games and they are as dangerous as they come. They are a hot team and it will be a great opportunity and challenge at the same time.”
UCLA right-handed pitcher Kelly Austin
on helping his team secure the win against Florida State
“I was pumped, obviously. Watching the regionals is something that you watch, as a kid, so to get that chance to finally play in that and get the chance to give my team that shot, that’s the reason you come to UCLA. So I was pumped.”
on the team’s emotions and reactions to taking the lead and winning in the ninth inning
“It was ecstatic, but at the same time we immediately knew that we need to stay ready to go for Auburn, later today. We just need to come out, play our game and be ready.”
Florida State head coach Mike Martin, Jr.
opening remarks
“It’s never easy for a season to end. We love every one of the members of our club. They genuinely care about each other and the ones that are graduating will be missed.”
on his team’s the redshirt seniors
“It’s what hurts. All that effort, blood, sweat, tears over the years. Going into it as a coach, you worry if the guys are ready for the world. Do they get how life works? I’m not concerned at all with this group that we’re losing. They get it and the work ethic is there. They’re going to be great successes, whether it’s pro ball, business, or whatever else.”
UCLA 2, Florida State 1
Auburn, Ala. (Plainsman Park)
NCAA Auburn Regional
June 5, 2022
UCLA head coach John Savage
opening remarks
“I just think Kelly Austin was the story. He stepped up. He’s been stepping up all season in a lot of different roles. He fought a really good Florida State team that was very dangerous in this ballpark. You have to tip your hat. He kept us in the ballgame. And then Kyle (Karros) comes up with a big hit in the seventh, and then Carson (Yates) follows with a big hit in the ninth. It wasn’t easy. It was a good ballgame. At the end of the day, we pitched well and we put up enough zeroes.”
on Sunday afternoon’s 2-1 pitching duel
“Well, pitching and defense gets you to Omaha. That’s been the formula forever and ever and nothing’s really changed. I know that there’s a lot of offense out there, but at the end of the day you have got to pitch and play defense and score more runs than the other team.”
on the performance from UCLA’s bullpen
“I don’t love running the closer out there when it’s 1-1 and we’re the visiting team in the eighth inning, but it’s do or die. It was just a situation where we needed a couple zeroes. Luke Jewett had done his job, and (Jake) Saum had done his job by putting up a zero in the seventh. We turned the ball over to Alonzo (Tredwell), and we were fortunate that Carson (Yates) hit the home run in the ninth.”
on advancing to Sunday night’s contest
“I just think that, you always have to beat the one (seed) to win a regional. And, there have been 99 percent of the regionals where you’ve got to beat the one. So, this isn’t unfamiliar territory for us. And certainly, this is why we made the trip.”
on facing No. 1-seed Auburn
“I mean, clearly they are very, very offensive. They have put up 40 runs in the first two games and they are as dangerous as they come. They are a hot team and it will be a great opportunity and challenge at the same time.”
UCLA right-handed pitcher Kelly Austin
on helping his team secure the win against Florida State
“I was pumped, obviously. Watching the regionals is something that you watch, as a kid, so to get that chance to finally play in that and get the chance to give my team that shot, that’s the reason you come to UCLA. So I was pumped.”
on the team’s emotions and reactions to taking the lead and winning in the ninth inning
“It was ecstatic, but at the same time we immediately knew that we need to stay ready to go for Auburn, later today. We just need to come out, play our game and be ready.”
Florida State head coach Mike Martin, Jr.
opening remarks
“It’s never easy for a season to end. We love every one of the members of our club. They genuinely care about each other and the ones that are graduating will be missed.”
on his team’s the redshirt seniors
“It’s what hurts. All that effort, blood, sweat, tears over the years. Going into it as a coach, you worry if the guys are ready for the world. Do they get how life works? I’m not concerned at all with this group that we’re losing. They get it and the work ethic is there. They’re going to be great successes, whether it’s pro ball, business, or whatever else.”