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
Postgame Quotes: Utah vs. SDSU, Game 1
5/26/2023 11:57 PM | Softball
San Diego State Postgame Quotes
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Head Coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz
Opening statement…
"The game started and both teams were feeling it, feeling the moment, feeling the energy, and it was far from a clean game for the first couple of innings. I felt like our group really just found a way to settle in despite the fact that 2,500 fans were rooting against us and it was an atmosphere that we haven't been in before. Once we got past the second inning, I thought we looked really comfortable and they figured out how to connect to each other and rely on each other in that moment, and not let the moment be too big. Ultimately, I think that was the difference. We strung together hits and were putting pressure on. We could have easily put up more runs than we did. We had opportunities after opportunities and that's the name of the game. We are facing a legit pitcher who is going to make it tough on us, but all in all, I was just really proud of how we handled this stage. After we got the jitters out after the first couple of innings, I thought we looked really comfortable, our defense was on point, and we did all the things we needed to do in the circle. It's phenomenal to be in the situation that we are in now and we are one win away from Oklahoma City."
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On the Aztec defense limiting Utah's hitters…
"It starts in the circle. I think Allie (Light) and Dee Dee (Hernandez) both were mixing inside-outside, and really just not letting them get comfortable and not letting them see the same pitch twice. Our defense really backed them up and made some really tough plays. We know that is Utah's deal. They put the ball in play and create havoc. That inning that they scored three runs that is what happened. They put the ball in play and we didn't play catch all that well in that particular inning. It came down to making the plays. Once we got through that ugliness, we made the plays we needed to make and had really big pitches in big moments. Defense and pitching is what is going to win you ball games. This time of year that is how it works.
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Third Base - AJ Murphy
On winning the program's first-ever Super Regional game…
"It feels great right now, but we aren't done and have one more game to win. I think just bouncing back tomorrow and playing like it is a 0-0 series and just going 1-0 tomorrow."
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Pitcher - Allie Light
On limiting Utah's hitters…
"They can really swing it. They came out super aggressive and they have been super hot throughout the whole postseason. So for me, I would say the success that we had today was straight from defense. My job is just to throw strikes in for them to put the ball in play and rely on the girls behind me to take care of the rest and I feel like they did that tonight. One hundred percent the defense today."
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Utah Postgame Quotes
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Head Coach Amy Hogue
Opening statement…
"Well we didn't play great today and we have been playing really great, so bad timing to have a bad day out there. There were a lot of good moments, but it got a little tight and my team didn't play very loose. The moment got a little big and got away from us. We did all those things not so great and still only lost by a run, so I like our opportunities to make our adjustments tomorrow and go get back on that roll that we've been on for quite a while."
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On the error-filled start to the game…
"For us, it was a little bit fast and the game felt fast to us early defensively. Once we settled in, we got better. The game that we play puts a lot of pressure on the other teams, so I would assume they were trying to rush to get us out because we are pretty quick. For us, the game got a little fast early and once we settled in we didn't make any more errors the rest of the game. We didn't put the ball in play the way that we are used to and honestly with the amount of runners they had on base, it felt like they were beating us by a whole lot more. We kept it close – Mariah did that. Nine strikeouts in big moments and kept giving our hitters a shot and it wasn't our day."
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On bouncing back tomorrow…
"We talked about it in the locker room that when our backs are against the wall we have done really, really well. I like that and it is absolutely backs against the wall time. The game just needs to completely flip. We need to find our offense again and the game flows from there. It was a rough start and we looked a little tight. The pressure got to us and so tomorrow we need to start hotter and then never stop for two days.
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Outfielder - Haley Denning
On the offensive struggles from the Utah hitters…
"It is what it is now. It is postseason. We just had a meeting with all of our teammates and we are one big family. That's the biggest crowd we have ever played in front of, so I think it is cool to have that opportunity and now that we have been there and have seen what it is like to play in front of, I think it will be awesome to see what we do tomorrow. Today it is what it is, but it is in the past and we can only win two more this weekend."
Â
On how to turn the offense around for Saturday's game…
"I just think we need to be ourselves. Today we weren't ourselves and I know I have complete faith and belief in every single one of my teammates that they are going to get the job done tomorrow. We still have the confidence even though the outcome wasn't what we wanted it to be today. That's softball. Sometimes it happens for you and sometimes it doesn't. There's no doubt in my mind that tomorrow I will still have complete faith in my teammates and get the job done.
Â
Pitcher - Mariah Lopez
On getting out of tough situations with base runners on…
"I put my team in a sticky position and I knew we needed to get out of those innings clean in order to give them a better shot to score some runs at bat."
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Head Coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz
Opening statement…
"The game started and both teams were feeling it, feeling the moment, feeling the energy, and it was far from a clean game for the first couple of innings. I felt like our group really just found a way to settle in despite the fact that 2,500 fans were rooting against us and it was an atmosphere that we haven't been in before. Once we got past the second inning, I thought we looked really comfortable and they figured out how to connect to each other and rely on each other in that moment, and not let the moment be too big. Ultimately, I think that was the difference. We strung together hits and were putting pressure on. We could have easily put up more runs than we did. We had opportunities after opportunities and that's the name of the game. We are facing a legit pitcher who is going to make it tough on us, but all in all, I was just really proud of how we handled this stage. After we got the jitters out after the first couple of innings, I thought we looked really comfortable, our defense was on point, and we did all the things we needed to do in the circle. It's phenomenal to be in the situation that we are in now and we are one win away from Oklahoma City."
Â
On the Aztec defense limiting Utah's hitters…
"It starts in the circle. I think Allie (Light) and Dee Dee (Hernandez) both were mixing inside-outside, and really just not letting them get comfortable and not letting them see the same pitch twice. Our defense really backed them up and made some really tough plays. We know that is Utah's deal. They put the ball in play and create havoc. That inning that they scored three runs that is what happened. They put the ball in play and we didn't play catch all that well in that particular inning. It came down to making the plays. Once we got through that ugliness, we made the plays we needed to make and had really big pitches in big moments. Defense and pitching is what is going to win you ball games. This time of year that is how it works.
Â
Third Base - AJ Murphy
On winning the program's first-ever Super Regional game…
"It feels great right now, but we aren't done and have one more game to win. I think just bouncing back tomorrow and playing like it is a 0-0 series and just going 1-0 tomorrow."
Â
Pitcher - Allie Light
On limiting Utah's hitters…
"They can really swing it. They came out super aggressive and they have been super hot throughout the whole postseason. So for me, I would say the success that we had today was straight from defense. My job is just to throw strikes in for them to put the ball in play and rely on the girls behind me to take care of the rest and I feel like they did that tonight. One hundred percent the defense today."
Â
Utah Postgame Quotes
Â
Head Coach Amy Hogue
Opening statement…
"Well we didn't play great today and we have been playing really great, so bad timing to have a bad day out there. There were a lot of good moments, but it got a little tight and my team didn't play very loose. The moment got a little big and got away from us. We did all those things not so great and still only lost by a run, so I like our opportunities to make our adjustments tomorrow and go get back on that roll that we've been on for quite a while."
Â
On the error-filled start to the game…
"For us, it was a little bit fast and the game felt fast to us early defensively. Once we settled in, we got better. The game that we play puts a lot of pressure on the other teams, so I would assume they were trying to rush to get us out because we are pretty quick. For us, the game got a little fast early and once we settled in we didn't make any more errors the rest of the game. We didn't put the ball in play the way that we are used to and honestly with the amount of runners they had on base, it felt like they were beating us by a whole lot more. We kept it close – Mariah did that. Nine strikeouts in big moments and kept giving our hitters a shot and it wasn't our day."
Â
On bouncing back tomorrow…
"We talked about it in the locker room that when our backs are against the wall we have done really, really well. I like that and it is absolutely backs against the wall time. The game just needs to completely flip. We need to find our offense again and the game flows from there. It was a rough start and we looked a little tight. The pressure got to us and so tomorrow we need to start hotter and then never stop for two days.
Â
Outfielder - Haley Denning
On the offensive struggles from the Utah hitters…
"It is what it is now. It is postseason. We just had a meeting with all of our teammates and we are one big family. That's the biggest crowd we have ever played in front of, so I think it is cool to have that opportunity and now that we have been there and have seen what it is like to play in front of, I think it will be awesome to see what we do tomorrow. Today it is what it is, but it is in the past and we can only win two more this weekend."
Â
On how to turn the offense around for Saturday's game…
"I just think we need to be ourselves. Today we weren't ourselves and I know I have complete faith and belief in every single one of my teammates that they are going to get the job done tomorrow. We still have the confidence even though the outcome wasn't what we wanted it to be today. That's softball. Sometimes it happens for you and sometimes it doesn't. There's no doubt in my mind that tomorrow I will still have complete faith in my teammates and get the job done.
Â
Pitcher - Mariah Lopez
On getting out of tough situations with base runners on…
"I put my team in a sticky position and I knew we needed to get out of those innings clean in order to give them a better shot to score some runs at bat."
Â
Players Mentioned
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