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Postgame Quotes: Utah vs. SDSU, Game 2
5/27/2023 6:58 PM | Softball
Utah Postgame Quotes
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Head Coach Amy Hogue
Opening statement…
"What a team win. Really proud of this group and how they recovered and how they came back after the little delay we had to run off seven more runs. I really wish we could play that last game right now, but we will get some rest and come back tomorrow."
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On being able to give Moriah some rest…
"She doesn't need rest. She wants the ball. She is hungry for it. It was nice to get Sarah in there because there is a lot of nerves there and it was a chance to get some nerves out because we are going to need all of our arms to get through this thing tomorrow. It was good to get her that experience out there and she did great."
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On her assessment through two games so far…
"I like that after two games we have seen all of their pitchers and they haven't seen ours. I think that tomorrow will be a continuation of what the chess match is going to look like. I have an idea of who they are going to throw because she beat us the first day, but I think that there is so much strategy in it especially when you are in a series and on day three. So many different ways you can pitch to each of their hitters and a lot of notes. There will be some homework tonight so I am glad we ended a little earlier so we can get studying."
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On the lightning delay not causing any break in the offense…
"I think if anything it made them a little stir-crazy in there and they came out and just blew the game up. The most important thing that they do is go and play the game that they love and support each other. Every single kid in my lineup got a hit today and when we do that kind of stuff there is just no end to it and it is tough for teams to even take a break. Really proud of what they did."
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Third Base – Julia Jimenez
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On having all the pressure on Utah today…
"Breathing is our biggest talent on this team. I think we lost a little bit of it yesterday, but this team has so much grit. We have been waiting for that moment for a long time. We lost a little of it yesterday, but we are going to get them tomorrow."
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On her grand slam at-bat…
"I was not expecting that whatsoever because I swung and whiffed at two change-ups, but I just told myself that you are going to get a good pitch here and just slowing it down for me was one of my biggest things. I need to breathe when I am up there. I just told myself you are not striking out up there. Whatever is going to happen, you're not striking out. I saw it, put my bat on the ball, and it went."
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On the error free day from the defense…
"It is unlike us (to have errors). It for sure is. Aliya and I talk about it all the time. We have one error and it's not happening again. We learn from it and today we were like 'we are going to have the best defense we have ever had'. Coming from yesterday, it is unlike us, so we know we have each other's backs."
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Second Base – Aliya Belarde
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On handling the pressure of today's game…
"We are just so competitive and when we show up in situations like how we did yesterday, we have a lot more to prove the next day. That is probably one of our biggest things we hold ourselves to is that standard of how we come back the next day and getting it done."
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On the difference for Utah's offense today…
"It was taking it into our control. We had a talk last night and there were a lot of things that we couldn't control and we decided to come out here today and play our game and have fun. When we play loose it is definitely when we produce the most."
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On when the team knew they were going to have a good hitting day…
"Honestly, last night after the game ended we knew we were going to come back and do everything we can to put up as many runs as we could today. Just understanding each other and coming together as a team was the only thing that we needed."
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San Diego State Postgame Quotes
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Head Coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz
Opening statement…
"It was a tough day for the Aztecs. There's really not any other way of saying it. Right from the beginning of the game they were swinging it and putting the pressure on. Credit goes to them. It is going to be a dogfight. That is the key. Today for us, we have to flush it and move on and that is the best we can do. There are too many things to really try to get into the weeds of. Today was their day and tomorrow it is back to earning a championship opportunity and a chance to get to Oklahoma City."
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On the difference of how many pitchers have been thrown between the teams…
"With all due respect, we have seen theirs. We have seen Moriah Lopez and no disrespect to the rest of their staff, but I will bet my mortgage she is in the circle tomorrow. With their season on the line, that is who we will see. Now, if we get to her, then that's a different story. If we get to her, then I like our chances. She is their ace and her inning numbers prove that so there's no mystery there. If they play chess and do some other thing, then awesome and we will be fine because we have prepared for all of their other pitchers. We know she is their go-to. At the end of the day, she has thrown upward of 250 pitches against us. And to her credit, she's done a phenomenal job of continuing to be successful even though we have seen her a number of times."
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Pitcher – Dee Dee Hernandez
On what they need to do tomorrow to get the win…
"We just flush it and turn the next page. I am ready to go to battle with these girls and it is going to be fun. We love competing with one another and it is just another game of softball."
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On how she feels on the mound leading this team...
"I feel really good with our pitching staff. We work together really well and no matter who is on the mound – me, Allie, or Sarah – we are going to come out and compete. Just having fun and trusting our defense."
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On getting used to the crowd…
"Of course yesterday our first game is a little hard, but we got to see it yesterday and it was a big moment, but I think we have settled in really well."
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Second Base - Makena Brocki
On how different the two games have been…
"I think that the game of softball works like this. Some days your team shows up and sometimes they don't. Today Utah showed up and I think tomorrow is going to be a dogfight. It is a game for either of us to take and I am ready to go to battle with this team."
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Head Coach Amy Hogue
Opening statement…
"What a team win. Really proud of this group and how they recovered and how they came back after the little delay we had to run off seven more runs. I really wish we could play that last game right now, but we will get some rest and come back tomorrow."
Â
On being able to give Moriah some rest…
"She doesn't need rest. She wants the ball. She is hungry for it. It was nice to get Sarah in there because there is a lot of nerves there and it was a chance to get some nerves out because we are going to need all of our arms to get through this thing tomorrow. It was good to get her that experience out there and she did great."
Â
On her assessment through two games so far…
"I like that after two games we have seen all of their pitchers and they haven't seen ours. I think that tomorrow will be a continuation of what the chess match is going to look like. I have an idea of who they are going to throw because she beat us the first day, but I think that there is so much strategy in it especially when you are in a series and on day three. So many different ways you can pitch to each of their hitters and a lot of notes. There will be some homework tonight so I am glad we ended a little earlier so we can get studying."
Â
On the lightning delay not causing any break in the offense…
"I think if anything it made them a little stir-crazy in there and they came out and just blew the game up. The most important thing that they do is go and play the game that they love and support each other. Every single kid in my lineup got a hit today and when we do that kind of stuff there is just no end to it and it is tough for teams to even take a break. Really proud of what they did."
Â
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Third Base – Julia Jimenez
Â
On having all the pressure on Utah today…
"Breathing is our biggest talent on this team. I think we lost a little bit of it yesterday, but this team has so much grit. We have been waiting for that moment for a long time. We lost a little of it yesterday, but we are going to get them tomorrow."
Â
On her grand slam at-bat…
"I was not expecting that whatsoever because I swung and whiffed at two change-ups, but I just told myself that you are going to get a good pitch here and just slowing it down for me was one of my biggest things. I need to breathe when I am up there. I just told myself you are not striking out up there. Whatever is going to happen, you're not striking out. I saw it, put my bat on the ball, and it went."
Â
On the error free day from the defense…
"It is unlike us (to have errors). It for sure is. Aliya and I talk about it all the time. We have one error and it's not happening again. We learn from it and today we were like 'we are going to have the best defense we have ever had'. Coming from yesterday, it is unlike us, so we know we have each other's backs."
Â
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Second Base – Aliya Belarde
Â
On handling the pressure of today's game…
"We are just so competitive and when we show up in situations like how we did yesterday, we have a lot more to prove the next day. That is probably one of our biggest things we hold ourselves to is that standard of how we come back the next day and getting it done."
Â
On the difference for Utah's offense today…
"It was taking it into our control. We had a talk last night and there were a lot of things that we couldn't control and we decided to come out here today and play our game and have fun. When we play loose it is definitely when we produce the most."
Â
On when the team knew they were going to have a good hitting day…
"Honestly, last night after the game ended we knew we were going to come back and do everything we can to put up as many runs as we could today. Just understanding each other and coming together as a team was the only thing that we needed."
Â
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San Diego State Postgame Quotes
Â
Head Coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz
Opening statement…
"It was a tough day for the Aztecs. There's really not any other way of saying it. Right from the beginning of the game they were swinging it and putting the pressure on. Credit goes to them. It is going to be a dogfight. That is the key. Today for us, we have to flush it and move on and that is the best we can do. There are too many things to really try to get into the weeds of. Today was their day and tomorrow it is back to earning a championship opportunity and a chance to get to Oklahoma City."
Â
On the difference of how many pitchers have been thrown between the teams…
"With all due respect, we have seen theirs. We have seen Moriah Lopez and no disrespect to the rest of their staff, but I will bet my mortgage she is in the circle tomorrow. With their season on the line, that is who we will see. Now, if we get to her, then that's a different story. If we get to her, then I like our chances. She is their ace and her inning numbers prove that so there's no mystery there. If they play chess and do some other thing, then awesome and we will be fine because we have prepared for all of their other pitchers. We know she is their go-to. At the end of the day, she has thrown upward of 250 pitches against us. And to her credit, she's done a phenomenal job of continuing to be successful even though we have seen her a number of times."
Â
Pitcher – Dee Dee Hernandez
On what they need to do tomorrow to get the win…
"We just flush it and turn the next page. I am ready to go to battle with these girls and it is going to be fun. We love competing with one another and it is just another game of softball."
Â
On how she feels on the mound leading this team...
"I feel really good with our pitching staff. We work together really well and no matter who is on the mound – me, Allie, or Sarah – we are going to come out and compete. Just having fun and trusting our defense."
Â
On getting used to the crowd…
"Of course yesterday our first game is a little hard, but we got to see it yesterday and it was a big moment, but I think we have settled in really well."
Â
Second Base - Makena Brocki
On how different the two games have been…
"I think that the game of softball works like this. Some days your team shows up and sometimes they don't. Today Utah showed up and I think tomorrow is going to be a dogfight. It is a game for either of us to take and I am ready to go to battle with this team."
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Players Mentioned
INF
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INF
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