Upcoming Event: Softball versus Salt Lake Community College on October 21, 2025 at 4 p.m.
4 p.m.
Softball
vs Salt Lake Community College
The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Postgame Quotes (May 21)
5/21/2023 4:36 PM | Softball
Utah Postgame Quotes
2023 NCAA Salt Lake City Regional
Salt Lake City, Utah (Dumke Family Softball Stadium)
No. 15 Utah 4, Ole Miss 1
Sun., May 21, 2023
First Pitch: 12:05 p.m. MT | Game Duration: 2:35
Attendance: 2,506 (sellout)
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Head Coach Amy Hogue; Freshman Shortstop Karlie Davison; Junior Left-Handed Pitcher Mariah Lopez
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Opening statement
AH: "Eleven hits today for us. That was fantastic. I'm really proud of this team and accomplishing something we've not done. We've never had the opportunity to host the supers and I'd love anybody to come in and play this team right now. We're playing great and we just earned a couple more days of ball."
Â
Mariah, when you see the crowd, do the wave in the sixth inning, what goes through your mind?
ML:Â "I was just focused on three more outs. I mean the fans were cheering the whole time. It was keeping us up. We wanted to win for our team and our coaches but also the fans."
Â
Karlie, on the homerun, can you take us through what you saw there and how you got it out of here?
KD: "We had been talking about that down and in pitch in particular because it got me out twice yesterday. I knew it was going to come again. It was only a matter of time before I got it and I wasn't going to let them get me out on that same pitch again. I just put a good swing on it and it went out to put two runs on the board. Usually, I'm rounding first when I see the ball go over, but I knew that one was out when I hit it."
Â
Mariah, how much longer could you have gone? Just like yesterday it looked like you were getting stronger as the game went on?
ML: "I mean, as long as we need to go. It doesn't matter."
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What's the difference in mentality between day one and day three of the weekend?
ML: "Obviously, we're not fresh and some things are hurting, but being strong mentally is something that gets me through."
Â
Ole Miss' coach was just in here and said that she thinks that you guys can make it to Oklahoma City and maybe even win some games there. What's your reaction to her opinion of that?
AH: "It means a lot, they're a great team. They were tough. We were studying them and we knew that they had been coached up well. That's a lot of respect and I appreciate that from her. They were tough to beat. Having Mariah give up one run, two days in a row is unreal but just a testament to how good she performed."
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Did you watch the UCLA loss last night or did you just go home (after your game) and go to bed? And what was your reaction when UCLA was eliminated, meaning you could host?
ML: "I watched the game, I knew if they lost, we'd get to host. After that game we were thrilled. Going into today, we knew we needed to win no matter what because we knew how important it was."
KD: "It was exciting to know that we had the chance to host but we knew we still needed to win a game. It wasn't automatic. We all had the confidence going into today that we would come out with a win."
AH: "I watched a little less of the game then these two. I was a little worried about what we had on the docket for today. My family was keeping an eye on it and I told them to let me know when there were about six outs left. I know those hitters and I didn't want to think about it until we get a little closer. It helped us. I think our team was more focused knowing there was that extra piece, that winning today didn't only mean supers but it meant a better chance at the overall goal which is the World Series so it just made it that much sweeter. You see our team with a ton of energy and excitement and they're kind of goofy with all the things they show but they were more focused today. They weren't going to let anyone take this from them. Knew there would be more balls in play today. We had 10 strikeouts against them yesterday and I had a feeling they would cut that half. That just means more defense. Our defense, especially early in this game made some big plays. They came out attacking and were able to flip their game plan a little bit and we were ready."
Â
Is there anything right now that this team can improve on?
AH: "Yes, that's my full time job to make sure there's always things we can improve on. There's always things I want them to do a little bit better. Today I needed to be better, I made a mistake that could have hurt us. I think that's what it's all about, finding a couple things to celebrate and be proud of and find one thing that we could get a little better at, and then repeat that.
Â
"This team wouldn't let me do anything else. They want to be pushed, they want to be better. A lot of it has to do with confidence right now. We haven't been to this stage before and Coach Paige (Parker) talks to them about what it feels like to be in these big games. Paige Parker knows what that feels like and has really helped with the mental side of this."
Â
From the preparation standpoint, not having to go on the road, getting to sleep in your own bed, how does that help you get ready for the Supers?
AH: "It helped us this week. I couldn't believe how tired I was but I'm twice as old as everyone here. I think it matters a lot. We have our routines we get to do. We have our fans here shouting and we get more rest. We travel a lot and we're good at it. We would have been fine but to have the extra hours to not get on an airplane is huge."
Â
Do you know a lot about San Diego State and Liberty?
AH: "I mean not much, just what I saw of the six outs of Liberty in the game I watched last night. But everyone is great, they'll be gunning for us so we'll know a whole lot more before we get to the end of the week."
Â
Karlie, what is it like to be a freshman with this program and being able to go as far as you have?
KD: "It's been amazing. I came in here wanting to do this and so did everyone else. The older kids on the team haven't had this type of success in previous years so it's really exciting for me to see them be able to do this and be a part of it."
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2023 NCAA Salt Lake City Regional
Salt Lake City, Utah (Dumke Family Softball Stadium)
No. 15 Utah 4, Ole Miss 1
Sun., May 21, 2023
First Pitch: 12:05 p.m. MT | Game Duration: 2:35
Attendance: 2,506 (sellout)
Â
Head Coach Amy Hogue; Freshman Shortstop Karlie Davison; Junior Left-Handed Pitcher Mariah Lopez
Â
Opening statement
AH: "Eleven hits today for us. That was fantastic. I'm really proud of this team and accomplishing something we've not done. We've never had the opportunity to host the supers and I'd love anybody to come in and play this team right now. We're playing great and we just earned a couple more days of ball."
Â
Mariah, when you see the crowd, do the wave in the sixth inning, what goes through your mind?
ML:Â "I was just focused on three more outs. I mean the fans were cheering the whole time. It was keeping us up. We wanted to win for our team and our coaches but also the fans."
Â
Karlie, on the homerun, can you take us through what you saw there and how you got it out of here?
KD: "We had been talking about that down and in pitch in particular because it got me out twice yesterday. I knew it was going to come again. It was only a matter of time before I got it and I wasn't going to let them get me out on that same pitch again. I just put a good swing on it and it went out to put two runs on the board. Usually, I'm rounding first when I see the ball go over, but I knew that one was out when I hit it."
Â
Mariah, how much longer could you have gone? Just like yesterday it looked like you were getting stronger as the game went on?
ML: "I mean, as long as we need to go. It doesn't matter."
Â
What's the difference in mentality between day one and day three of the weekend?
ML: "Obviously, we're not fresh and some things are hurting, but being strong mentally is something that gets me through."
Â
Ole Miss' coach was just in here and said that she thinks that you guys can make it to Oklahoma City and maybe even win some games there. What's your reaction to her opinion of that?
AH: "It means a lot, they're a great team. They were tough. We were studying them and we knew that they had been coached up well. That's a lot of respect and I appreciate that from her. They were tough to beat. Having Mariah give up one run, two days in a row is unreal but just a testament to how good she performed."
Â
Did you watch the UCLA loss last night or did you just go home (after your game) and go to bed? And what was your reaction when UCLA was eliminated, meaning you could host?
ML: "I watched the game, I knew if they lost, we'd get to host. After that game we were thrilled. Going into today, we knew we needed to win no matter what because we knew how important it was."
KD: "It was exciting to know that we had the chance to host but we knew we still needed to win a game. It wasn't automatic. We all had the confidence going into today that we would come out with a win."
AH: "I watched a little less of the game then these two. I was a little worried about what we had on the docket for today. My family was keeping an eye on it and I told them to let me know when there were about six outs left. I know those hitters and I didn't want to think about it until we get a little closer. It helped us. I think our team was more focused knowing there was that extra piece, that winning today didn't only mean supers but it meant a better chance at the overall goal which is the World Series so it just made it that much sweeter. You see our team with a ton of energy and excitement and they're kind of goofy with all the things they show but they were more focused today. They weren't going to let anyone take this from them. Knew there would be more balls in play today. We had 10 strikeouts against them yesterday and I had a feeling they would cut that half. That just means more defense. Our defense, especially early in this game made some big plays. They came out attacking and were able to flip their game plan a little bit and we were ready."
Â
Is there anything right now that this team can improve on?
AH: "Yes, that's my full time job to make sure there's always things we can improve on. There's always things I want them to do a little bit better. Today I needed to be better, I made a mistake that could have hurt us. I think that's what it's all about, finding a couple things to celebrate and be proud of and find one thing that we could get a little better at, and then repeat that.
Â
"This team wouldn't let me do anything else. They want to be pushed, they want to be better. A lot of it has to do with confidence right now. We haven't been to this stage before and Coach Paige (Parker) talks to them about what it feels like to be in these big games. Paige Parker knows what that feels like and has really helped with the mental side of this."
Â
From the preparation standpoint, not having to go on the road, getting to sleep in your own bed, how does that help you get ready for the Supers?
AH: "It helped us this week. I couldn't believe how tired I was but I'm twice as old as everyone here. I think it matters a lot. We have our routines we get to do. We have our fans here shouting and we get more rest. We travel a lot and we're good at it. We would have been fine but to have the extra hours to not get on an airplane is huge."
Â
Do you know a lot about San Diego State and Liberty?
AH: "I mean not much, just what I saw of the six outs of Liberty in the game I watched last night. But everyone is great, they'll be gunning for us so we'll know a whole lot more before we get to the end of the week."
Â
Karlie, what is it like to be a freshman with this program and being able to go as far as you have?
KD: "It's been amazing. I came in here wanting to do this and so did everyone else. The older kids on the team haven't had this type of success in previous years so it's really exciting for me to see them be able to do this and be a part of it."
Â
Players Mentioned
INF
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