University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Postgame Quotes – UCLA 7, South Carolina 2
POSTGAME QUOTES
UCLA 7, South Carolina 2
Easton Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)
NCAA Los Angeles Regional
May 16, 2026
Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach
opening statement
“I’m going to say in postseason, one of the most important things that you can do is have a short-term memory, and I couldn’t be more proud of how Taylor [Tinsley] came out today and just played her game. Every day is a new day, but the ability to have that rebound, that bounce back, is something that is really impressive, and this team can hit. I’m proud from top to bottom their ability to continue to do this in the postseason, it’s something that was the plan. That is a tough opponent, but we came just to play softball today, and I’m proud of how we played.”
on Soo-Jin Berry’s role in the lineup
“I mean, she straight earned it. I will say, there was a moment where she didn’t get and outcome, and she was pretty frustrated. So, it’s tough when you’re coming off into a pinch-hit situation and you don’t get the outcome, because you live and die on that one at-bat. I had a conversation – she’s been a Bruin for just a short period of time – but I had a conversation about understanding the game. I mean, she is a hitter. This girl straight beat us just last year against us, and she is a pure hitter, but this game is going to challenge you. And I had said, you’re going to come up with a bit hit, if you understand that you’re going to get another opportunity. So, with that, you saw her just go straight up. She is a hitter. She is a hitter, she’s fearless, she can hit to all fields,
but it’s about understanding how to manage the failure, and that’s a big part of being a Bruin, is getting to the next at-bat, and I’m so proud of her, because she’s just playing right now.”
on Megan Grant’s impact in the game
“Well it’s interesting, because actually before the game started, I was chatting with the team about how awesome – two things – one was Megan’s ability to take a deep breath and just be present, because she knows no one is going to serve up a ball right over the plate for Megan Grant. With that being said, she’s so present. She’s such a professional hitter, and I said how awesome that is to see. And, as a result, she was able to take a walk. And here you got a senior, you’re down in a ballgame, and you want to be the one, and you have the capability, and you’re not getting the pitches. She could have very easily, selfishly, tried to do something more to win that ballgame, and for her to take the walk and pass the bat, those are the things that are showing the younger Bruins how we play as a team, because Megan Grant herself could actually chase a ball out of the zone and probably hit it out of the park. But with it, her ability to trust this team, her ability to be present, her ability to slow the game down, she’s just a beast of a professional hitter and she’s here to win, and I’m so proud of her, how contagious she is to the rest of the team.”
on Taylor Tinsley’s workload this season, if she could pitch every game for the Bruins
“Yes. She could. I mean, we’re taking it day by day, but she’s also an elite athlete. She’s also very fit. She’s also a spinner and has the ability. She doesn’t rely on trying to throw the ball 70 miles an hour. She actually breaks the ball up, down, change, she has every pitch. She’s at her best when she has the skill and her ability to spin the ball. So, with that, spinners can go a lot longer, and they have less wear and tear. So, with that, it’s all the work that she put in in the offseason, and summer, and in fall. She’s in the best shape of her life. So, do I want her to throw every game? Of course not. Have we had Bruins that have done that in the past? Yes, absolutely. We are a different sport than baseball that you can. I can say mentally, physically, she’s ready, but we’re going to do everything we can to win every game one day at a time.”
on the continued support from the fanbase
“I can say their families, that’s one of the strongest things is the ability to have family and friends that helped all of these Bruins get to where they are today. So, the ability to be there and support them is big. So that’s something that is key, and a big part of what is their confidence is just knowing that there’s people that love them regardless of how things turn out. The alumni are probably our biggest strength. Being a Bruin is something special. We say you’re a Bruin not just for four years, but you’re a Bruin for life, and how the alumni come back, support, and give back, is our strength. So, you see a lot of them. They come back, we have a lot of pros, we have a lot of national team players, they come back and train. But, for postseason, it is definitely a tradition that the alumni come back. And then, there’s local people that come back and play, there’s donors, there’s supporters, there’s a lot. But, when we get a chance to play in our house, it’s a great atmosphere and it’s something that definitely allows them to get into a flow a lot quicker.”
UCLA senior pitcher Taylor Tinsley
on her resilience and bounce back after Friday’s game
“Yeah, I think that comes with pitching, just taking it one pitch at a time – and even our game in general, it’s just a game of failure, so really just having a short-term memory in general, just taking it one pitch and one game at a time. We’re focused on where our feet are, we’re not really thinking about the past or the future, so really just being present with every single pitch, and including my teammates who are present with every single at-bat, and even on defense we’re just really focused on the now.”
on the double-play to end the fourth inning
“Yeah, that was really fun. I think it just shows that we’re our best when we’re really loose and we’re having fun with it. At the end of the day, I feel like we’re really focused on just having fun. That’s on and off the field – our chemistry is great and I think that shows up in our play, for sure.”
on her thought process after last night’s contest
“I feel like, honestly, the things I tell myself, it’s a lot of words of affirmation, kind of just having a game plan, kind of ‘I will do this for my team today, I will do this for myself today, I will stick to my routine’. So, just kind of talking to myself in that way. And I take that on to the mound as well, just always focusing on the next pitch – if that wasn’t a good pitch, ‘okay, next pitch, next pitch’. So, really just having a short-term memory and reminding myself that I am here for a reason. I’m playing for my teammates all the time.”
on how she’s feeling with her recent heavy workload
“I mean, I feel great. I love softball, I love playing, so any time I get the opportunity to have the ball in my hand I’m really excited. Like I said before, the team is really focused on just having fun, and I just have fun with it. I love pitching, and I wouldn’t trade anything for the world to have this opportunity that I’m healthy, I’m on the mound, and I’m able to do it for my team.”
UCLA junior utility Soo-Jin Berry
on her opportunity to have a role in the lineup
“I mean, obviously, we’re process oriented. So, like Coach I said, I wasn’t getting a lot of outcome in the beginning of the season but just knowing that I can show up for my teammates in whatever way possible, that’s really what’s been driving me to be as successful as I am right now. So, I’d say just playing for my team, and it’s obviously really important because I get to be there on the field with them.”
on being a Bruin in the postseason
“I mean, it’s really awesome to get an insider look of what it is like to be great. The standard that the coaches hold for us, and then the standard that we have for each other, I mean, there’s nothing like it. So, I honestly couldn’t be happier than to be on this team and be a part of this Bruin family.”
UCLA 7, South Carolina 2
Easton Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)
NCAA Los Angeles Regional
May 16, 2026
Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach
opening statement
“I’m going to say in postseason, one of the most important things that you can do is have a short-term memory, and I couldn’t be more proud of how Taylor [Tinsley] came out today and just played her game. Every day is a new day, but the ability to have that rebound, that bounce back, is something that is really impressive, and this team can hit. I’m proud from top to bottom their ability to continue to do this in the postseason, it’s something that was the plan. That is a tough opponent, but we came just to play softball today, and I’m proud of how we played.”
on Soo-Jin Berry’s role in the lineup
“I mean, she straight earned it. I will say, there was a moment where she didn’t get and outcome, and she was pretty frustrated. So, it’s tough when you’re coming off into a pinch-hit situation and you don’t get the outcome, because you live and die on that one at-bat. I had a conversation – she’s been a Bruin for just a short period of time – but I had a conversation about understanding the game. I mean, she is a hitter. This girl straight beat us just last year against us, and she is a pure hitter, but this game is going to challenge you. And I had said, you’re going to come up with a bit hit, if you understand that you’re going to get another opportunity. So, with that, you saw her just go straight up. She is a hitter. She is a hitter, she’s fearless, she can hit to all fields,
but it’s about understanding how to manage the failure, and that’s a big part of being a Bruin, is getting to the next at-bat, and I’m so proud of her, because she’s just playing right now.”
on Megan Grant’s impact in the game
“Well it’s interesting, because actually before the game started, I was chatting with the team about how awesome – two things – one was Megan’s ability to take a deep breath and just be present, because she knows no one is going to serve up a ball right over the plate for Megan Grant. With that being said, she’s so present. She’s such a professional hitter, and I said how awesome that is to see. And, as a result, she was able to take a walk. And here you got a senior, you’re down in a ballgame, and you want to be the one, and you have the capability, and you’re not getting the pitches. She could have very easily, selfishly, tried to do something more to win that ballgame, and for her to take the walk and pass the bat, those are the things that are showing the younger Bruins how we play as a team, because Megan Grant herself could actually chase a ball out of the zone and probably hit it out of the park. But with it, her ability to trust this team, her ability to be present, her ability to slow the game down, she’s just a beast of a professional hitter and she’s here to win, and I’m so proud of her, how contagious she is to the rest of the team.”
on Taylor Tinsley’s workload this season, if she could pitch every game for the Bruins
“Yes. She could. I mean, we’re taking it day by day, but she’s also an elite athlete. She’s also very fit. She’s also a spinner and has the ability. She doesn’t rely on trying to throw the ball 70 miles an hour. She actually breaks the ball up, down, change, she has every pitch. She’s at her best when she has the skill and her ability to spin the ball. So, with that, spinners can go a lot longer, and they have less wear and tear. So, with that, it’s all the work that she put in in the offseason, and summer, and in fall. She’s in the best shape of her life. So, do I want her to throw every game? Of course not. Have we had Bruins that have done that in the past? Yes, absolutely. We are a different sport than baseball that you can. I can say mentally, physically, she’s ready, but we’re going to do everything we can to win every game one day at a time.”
on the continued support from the fanbase
“I can say their families, that’s one of the strongest things is the ability to have family and friends that helped all of these Bruins get to where they are today. So, the ability to be there and support them is big. So that’s something that is key, and a big part of what is their confidence is just knowing that there’s people that love them regardless of how things turn out. The alumni are probably our biggest strength. Being a Bruin is something special. We say you’re a Bruin not just for four years, but you’re a Bruin for life, and how the alumni come back, support, and give back, is our strength. So, you see a lot of them. They come back, we have a lot of pros, we have a lot of national team players, they come back and train. But, for postseason, it is definitely a tradition that the alumni come back. And then, there’s local people that come back and play, there’s donors, there’s supporters, there’s a lot. But, when we get a chance to play in our house, it’s a great atmosphere and it’s something that definitely allows them to get into a flow a lot quicker.”
UCLA senior pitcher Taylor Tinsley
on her resilience and bounce back after Friday’s game
“Yeah, I think that comes with pitching, just taking it one pitch at a time – and even our game in general, it’s just a game of failure, so really just having a short-term memory in general, just taking it one pitch and one game at a time. We’re focused on where our feet are, we’re not really thinking about the past or the future, so really just being present with every single pitch, and including my teammates who are present with every single at-bat, and even on defense we’re just really focused on the now.”
on the double-play to end the fourth inning
“Yeah, that was really fun. I think it just shows that we’re our best when we’re really loose and we’re having fun with it. At the end of the day, I feel like we’re really focused on just having fun. That’s on and off the field – our chemistry is great and I think that shows up in our play, for sure.”
on her thought process after last night’s contest
“I feel like, honestly, the things I tell myself, it’s a lot of words of affirmation, kind of just having a game plan, kind of ‘I will do this for my team today, I will do this for myself today, I will stick to my routine’. So, just kind of talking to myself in that way. And I take that on to the mound as well, just always focusing on the next pitch – if that wasn’t a good pitch, ‘okay, next pitch, next pitch’. So, really just having a short-term memory and reminding myself that I am here for a reason. I’m playing for my teammates all the time.”
on how she’s feeling with her recent heavy workload
“I mean, I feel great. I love softball, I love playing, so any time I get the opportunity to have the ball in my hand I’m really excited. Like I said before, the team is really focused on just having fun, and I just have fun with it. I love pitching, and I wouldn’t trade anything for the world to have this opportunity that I’m healthy, I’m on the mound, and I’m able to do it for my team.”
UCLA junior utility Soo-Jin Berry
on her opportunity to have a role in the lineup
“I mean, obviously, we’re process oriented. So, like Coach I said, I wasn’t getting a lot of outcome in the beginning of the season but just knowing that I can show up for my teammates in whatever way possible, that’s really what’s been driving me to be as successful as I am right now. So, I’d say just playing for my team, and it’s obviously really important because I get to be there on the field with them.”
on being a Bruin in the postseason
“I mean, it’s really awesome to get an insider look of what it is like to be great. The standard that the coaches hold for us, and then the standard that we have for each other, I mean, there’s nothing like it. So, I honestly couldn’t be happier than to be on this team and be a part of this Bruin family.”