2025 WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

May 29, 2025

Kelly Inouye-Perez

Jessica Clements

Alexis Ramirez

Kaitlyn Terry

UCLA Bruins

Postgame Press Conference

UCLA 4, Oregon 2

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with an opening statement from Coach and then go to questions just for players. Coach, if you have an opening statement?

KELLY INOUYE-PEREZ: Yeah, just we knew it would be a great game. They're a great competitor, a great team.

But I love the way my team fought tonight. Things happen out of our control that can actually frustrate you and get you out of your game, and one thing I talked about to the team prior to is eliminate the noise. Things are going to get crazy, eliminate the noise. Figure out how to play the game one pitch at a time.

So, yeah, I'm proud of them, their ability to throw punches, their ability to stay in. KT pitched an amazing game. And Lefty, her and Lefty worked so beautifully together. Had a great game plan, and they just made adjustments.

But with that being said, Game 1 is the biggest one. Our ability to get this one is something I'm very proud of. The way we did it and to come from behind -- not come from behind, but put ourselves in the position to have that walk-off I think is a sign of great things to come. I'm really excited about getting back out there.

Q. Jessica, you homered off Sokolsky earlier in the season. What were you sitting on and what did you hit there, and how big a moment does that feel like for a transfer who I imagine you wanted this stage and you got that opportunity?

JESSICA CLEMENTS: Yeah, this is every girl's dream. This is my dream for as long as I could remember. Super blessed to be here.

I remember my at-bat against Sokolsky. I was just trying to take it one step at a time, one breath at a time, one pitch at a time. I had a good first hack. And it started also with a base runner getting on, and I was quite honestly looking middle, looking for a good pitch that I want to drive, and just going for a base hit to keep the rally going, not trying to do too much.

And I got the payoff from it. I'm so blessed to be here and have that opportunity to have that at-bat, and that started with getting a base runner on. And, yeah, I feel on top of the world. That was awesome.

Q. Alexis, just getting that home run and finally breaking through against Grein, how big of a relief was that?

ALEXIS RAMIREZ: It was awesome. It was just a big momentum switch for us. Credit to the base runner getting on, I think it was Jordan, just extending the inning and passing the bat. Without whoever is in front of me, I don't get that chance.

But it was a really big momentum switch for us, it was good.

Q. Alexis, the obstruction rule is certainly a controversial one, and everyone has opinions on it. Walk us through the play and what you believe you can and should do differently there to avoid obstruction. And what were your emotions in that half inning to go from that in the top half to going home victorious in the bottom half?

ALEXIS RAMIREZ: Yeah, I think there are rules that are part of the game, and that's one of them. That's out of my control.

But credit to my teammates for getting a rally going in that inning and having my back at the end of the day.

Q. KT, what kind of goes into pitch sequencing and those kind of conversations when you've played a team already three times this season?

KAITLYN TERRY: I think, honestly, it was very different this time because they didn't see my best the first time we played them. So, honestly, just attacking them with my strength and my pitches because they just haven't seen me, how I am.

THE MODERATOR: Any more questions for players? Okay. Players, you're dismissed.

All right. Questions for Coach Inouye-Perez.

Q. Kelly, just the same question I was asking Alexis, but when the initial call is out at home, and you're nearly out of the ball game at that point, it's overturned, that obstruction, your perspective on the play and what your catcher could have even done differently on a play that the throw home was out by a couple of steps.

KELLY INOUYE-PEREZ: Yeah, I don't agree with the call. Period. I thought she was clearly out.

So with that being said, it is a rule that is interesting. We were eliminated from the World Series when obstruction was clearly just a mess. And I believe, unfortunately, things like this in the game happen.

So with that being said, there is nothing. It was obstruction. They called it obstruction. Period. The fact that we answered back and walked it off is what I want to walk away from this game with. I'm proud of them. They didn't let that carry the momentum and gave it back to them.

Q. Jessica's hit, three homers now in the post-season. Has anything changed for her lately or this going into the season?

KELLY INOUYE-PEREZ: You know, what's so funny is the best part about Jessica is she's so humble. When we recruited her from the portal, she actually had great numbers. And I asked her what her biggest fear was coming to UCLA because there were so many great things to look forward to. And she was excited about the program and knew a lot about the program, and she said: My biggest fear is am I going to be good enough to play at this level.

I don't know when it was, but it was later towards the season, but she was getting a little frustrated, and I had to tell her. I said, you know, and with the whole team, There's no reason for you to get frustrated. You have one year to play softball here as a Bruin. And in one year, you have done so much to leave your name as somebody to be remembered on not just being able to hit for average, because she hits for high average, but her ability to hit for power.

And she said, Coach, I didn't hit home runs.

But credit to our coaches. Credit to Jess. Credit to her. And I said to her in the dugout when she was 0-for -- she ended up getting a hit, but she was 0-for, and I said: Introduce yourself on this stage. Let them know who you are.

And she was dancing. So I was telling the team, just loose, just enjoying the moment, saying I love being here, This is so much fun.

So to be able to see her end it with a walk-off. Her dream was to play here at Oklahoma City. There's nothing better than to be able to hit a walk-off home run in Game 1 at the College World Series. That will be a memory she will have for a lifetime, period. I'm so proud of her.

Q. Kelly, when Grein was struggling with first-pitch strikes in the first, but you guys managed to have a lot more success against her, whether by runs scored or just getting on and threatening throughout, what shifted on your side of the coin? Because she was attacking the zone far bet from the second on, yet your guys' offensive success was stronger despite that. What adjustments did you guys make particularly with Alexis there?

KELLY INOUYE-PEREZ: Yeah, just period adjustments. She throws the ball up. Our goal was to have a high turn, and we got it. That's it.

THE MODERATOR: Any more questions? Okay. Thank you.

KELLY INOUYE-PEREZ: Thanks.