Postgame Quotes - UCLA 9, UC Santa Barbara 1
UCLA 9, UC Santa Barbara 1
May 16, 2025
Easton Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)
NCAA Los Angeles Regional
Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach
opening statement
“First and foremost, I would like to give a shoutout and share the respect that I have for Jo (Evans) and this team and what she’s done for the sport. She’s been to a lot of places, she knows how to win, so it’s no surprise that she got her team here. They came out to compete, and Game One is always the biggest one in postseason play. So I’m proud of the Bruins. (UCSB) came out first and won that inning, but our ability to settle in and play our game is what we need to do here in the postseason. It was very clutch. (Kaitlyn Terry) came in and had Taylor Tinsley’s back, and we did a great job of being able to finish out game one of the postseason. I’m very proud of my Bruins.”
on setting the tone for the game
“We just needed to play our game and be our best. We focus on this all year. The season is a journey, and the goal is the end. The key is to not feel like you need to do anything more. We know our sport. People can score first, and it has no meaning in how the game’s going to end. This team has the ability to adjust. We play our game, and when we play our game, it gives us the best chance to win. I’m proud that they were able to settle in because 100 percent, there is going to be a lot of energy coming into a game like this. Credit to them and to the coaches. We played our game; you got to see UCLA softball.”
on the team’s resilience
“The whole season, we’ve had some big-time highs and some lows, and we’ve learned through all of it. We know we need to get to the next pitch and that that is the bottom line. The most important thing right now is that they’re playing for each other. They’ve got each other’s backs. They take great pride in being able to play as a team, and that’s important in the postseason. The whole season brings that together. You've got to see Bruins having each other’s backs, and then you put yourself in the position to win the ball game.”
on Taylor Stephens’ first game back
“It was huge. We’ve had some really interesting things happen. Alexis Ramirez missed the whole preseason and started in conference, and she was a shot in the arm in the lineup. Taylor Stephens missed literally the whole season, and it was the ability to come back and do whatever she could. She’s a senior, she’s had two serious, season-ending injuries, and she’s rehabbed, she’s been really resilient, and she’s been willing to do whatever it takes. If she needs to run, hit, or play defense. Our game is crazy. She has been a relentless rehabber to be able to do whatever she can to help her team. I’m happy that she got the opportunity to do that today.”
on tomorrow’s game
“Today was huge. Game one is the biggest one, and getting the nerves out, all of that. There will be a different focus going into tomorrow. I like that we’re getting that experience. There are a lot of Bruins, some young ones, and it’s their first time in the postseason. But you got to see the bottom half of the lineup perform until we get back up to the top. Softball is at its best when you aren’t relying on one person. The ability to spread it around throughout the lineup, KT having Taylor’s back, all the pitchers being able to have each other’s backs. That’s a big part of our plan this weekend, to be able to play together."
UCLA pitcher Kaitlyn Terry
on her performance today
“Honestly, my mindset was just having Taylor (Tinsley's) back at that time. They threw a punch at her, and just knowing that no matter if they throw a punch at us, we’re going to punch back."
on getting ready for an at-bat while warming up in the bullpen
“I mean, it is very hard, but I think that just my mindset is knowing, kind of like putting them on different sides, like if I’m pitching then I’m focusing on pitching, and if I’m in right field then I’m in right field, and for hitting the same thing. I think that splitting them up is probably the biggest thing and not letting them get together.”
on the season as a whole
“I mean, more than anything. Knowing that I just put us ahead and that now I’m about to go in there is a great feeling.”
on playing for the team
“Honestly, I think that what Coach said about us playing for each other more than anything else is probably the base thing that we’ve looked around and have been all out there.”
UCLA outfielder Jessica Clements
on her home run in the bottom of the 6th
“It was a total turnaround. I wanted to hit, and even though I got hit by the pitch, I was committed to hitting. I was going for a base hit, and I switched my plan to looking for the changeup; I got my bat there and hit it hard."
on playing for the team
“One of our biggest things is trying to have fun, that’s what we do best is try to have fun while playing. So, going back to what we do best, I think I’ll be able to go out there."
May 16, 2025
Easton Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)
NCAA Los Angeles Regional
Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach
opening statement
“First and foremost, I would like to give a shoutout and share the respect that I have for Jo (Evans) and this team and what she’s done for the sport. She’s been to a lot of places, she knows how to win, so it’s no surprise that she got her team here. They came out to compete, and Game One is always the biggest one in postseason play. So I’m proud of the Bruins. (UCSB) came out first and won that inning, but our ability to settle in and play our game is what we need to do here in the postseason. It was very clutch. (Kaitlyn Terry) came in and had Taylor Tinsley’s back, and we did a great job of being able to finish out game one of the postseason. I’m very proud of my Bruins.”
on setting the tone for the game
“We just needed to play our game and be our best. We focus on this all year. The season is a journey, and the goal is the end. The key is to not feel like you need to do anything more. We know our sport. People can score first, and it has no meaning in how the game’s going to end. This team has the ability to adjust. We play our game, and when we play our game, it gives us the best chance to win. I’m proud that they were able to settle in because 100 percent, there is going to be a lot of energy coming into a game like this. Credit to them and to the coaches. We played our game; you got to see UCLA softball.”
on the team’s resilience
“The whole season, we’ve had some big-time highs and some lows, and we’ve learned through all of it. We know we need to get to the next pitch and that that is the bottom line. The most important thing right now is that they’re playing for each other. They’ve got each other’s backs. They take great pride in being able to play as a team, and that’s important in the postseason. The whole season brings that together. You've got to see Bruins having each other’s backs, and then you put yourself in the position to win the ball game.”
on Taylor Stephens’ first game back
“It was huge. We’ve had some really interesting things happen. Alexis Ramirez missed the whole preseason and started in conference, and she was a shot in the arm in the lineup. Taylor Stephens missed literally the whole season, and it was the ability to come back and do whatever she could. She’s a senior, she’s had two serious, season-ending injuries, and she’s rehabbed, she’s been really resilient, and she’s been willing to do whatever it takes. If she needs to run, hit, or play defense. Our game is crazy. She has been a relentless rehabber to be able to do whatever she can to help her team. I’m happy that she got the opportunity to do that today.”
on tomorrow’s game
“Today was huge. Game one is the biggest one, and getting the nerves out, all of that. There will be a different focus going into tomorrow. I like that we’re getting that experience. There are a lot of Bruins, some young ones, and it’s their first time in the postseason. But you got to see the bottom half of the lineup perform until we get back up to the top. Softball is at its best when you aren’t relying on one person. The ability to spread it around throughout the lineup, KT having Taylor’s back, all the pitchers being able to have each other’s backs. That’s a big part of our plan this weekend, to be able to play together."
UCLA pitcher Kaitlyn Terry
on her performance today
“Honestly, my mindset was just having Taylor (Tinsley's) back at that time. They threw a punch at her, and just knowing that no matter if they throw a punch at us, we’re going to punch back."
on getting ready for an at-bat while warming up in the bullpen
“I mean, it is very hard, but I think that just my mindset is knowing, kind of like putting them on different sides, like if I’m pitching then I’m focusing on pitching, and if I’m in right field then I’m in right field, and for hitting the same thing. I think that splitting them up is probably the biggest thing and not letting them get together.”
on the season as a whole
“I mean, more than anything. Knowing that I just put us ahead and that now I’m about to go in there is a great feeling.”
on playing for the team
“Honestly, I think that what Coach said about us playing for each other more than anything else is probably the base thing that we’ve looked around and have been all out there.”
UCLA outfielder Jessica Clements
on her home run in the bottom of the 6th
“It was a total turnaround. I wanted to hit, and even though I got hit by the pitch, I was committed to hitting. I was going for a base hit, and I switched my plan to looking for the changeup; I got my bat there and hit it hard."
on playing for the team
“One of our biggest things is trying to have fun, that’s what we do best is try to have fun while playing. So, going back to what we do best, I think I’ll be able to go out there."