Postgame Quotes: Utah vs. SDSU, Game 3
Utah Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Amy Hogue
Opening statement…
"This is the first time I am looking at the box score and I love to see 11 hits. That was the name of the game to get run support for Mariah since they had seen her so many innings. It is really important to get a big number up early, and we got a big number up early and never looked back. Really proud of this team."
On what this means to the program…
"It has been too long. They have been building and doing all the things that it takes to get there. You can't take what we just did for granted. It's incredibly hard. I just talked to my former coach who has been there. Took me there, led us there – Jo Evans – and she took her program there. She said you have to enjoy every minute of it because it is just so hard to get there. You're going. Go and have a good time."
On what is means as being a former Ute player…
"None of this is about me and I know that it is pretty cliché to say, but the alumni… this is for everyone that helped build this place. The University, who decided to build a nice stadium that we could fill up and do this. There is so many pieces that went into place and the alum that are out there – they built this. I just got to write the lineup and be a part of the ride. I am just really proud of the accomplishment because there were so many people involved and we should be proud of that fact that it was a whole group that got this done."
On the support from the crowd…
"The crowd fired us up. It was just meant to be for us to be here and celebrate this because either way we were maybe going to go get it done on the road, but to be able to be with everyone here together and enjoy it with our fans it just means so much more. We raised the bar a little bit and we want these fans to come out when it's snowing in mid-March when we are playing at home and not just when it is Super Regionals. It is a call out to all of our fans because we know you are out there and keep coming."
Pitcher – Mariah Lopez
On pitching the entire weekend…
"When my number is called, I want the ball whenever. If that is what the team needs then I am going to be there for them."
On wanting the ball and no rest…
"I want to play. I want to be the one to take my team there. Obviously, we are getting the rest we need, but it is more mental and wanting it more than the other team."
Left Fielder - Haley Denning
On reaching the Women's College World Series…
"Coming from freshman and sophomore year, it was hard because we didn't even have a shot at postseason. So coming and seeing this year how hard everyone has worked, it has just been insane and super awesome. It is awesome to see how the team has grown in the past five years since I have been here. Now it is crazy we get to be one of the top eight teams."
On the success of women's sports at Utah…
"I think it is awesome. We had the Title IX banquet this year and that was the first time we got to do it. It was an awesome experience to have all the women athletes come together and alum. It was cool to see everyone come together and support each other. We had our soccer team send out a message on Twitter and Instagram to wish us luck, and they are always out at other events to support female sport athletes. It is really cool to see us supporting each other."
San Diego State Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz
Opening statement…
"First of all, congratulations to Utah. We punched first and to their credit they came back and did what they needed to do to get themselves a spot in the Women's College World Series. A scrappy team, dynamic team, and I am going to give it up to Mariah Lopez. She was unbelievable. I don't know what her pitch total was this weekend – somewhere in the 300s – and that is sort of a throwback to this generation. I don't know her, but I am proud of her. She battled her butt off and carried her team to their first ever so congrats to them.
I don't really want to talk about today because we can get into the weeds, but I just want to talk about the tribe that we have and the family we have created, built, and are building. It is hard to say goodbye to a season that has been this special when we have done the firsts that we have done. The people that are a part of it, some of them won't be here anymore. This is Alexis Otero's last day in a softball uniform and I am so proud of how she went out and finished things and our senior class. I hate the idea of a moral victory, but there are lessons to be learned. Obviously, we are sad to say goodbye to people that will no longer be with us, but at the same time, dang the future is bright for San Diego State softball. These experiences, as much as they hurt right now in the moment, this is what builds character and builds momentum and builds a foundation for the future. I am so excited about what the future holds for us and people like Allie Light that will be a big part of it. Again, we have great things ahead of us despite how it feels right now and these are all feathers in our cap as we continue to build this program and take it to the next level."
On if she considers the season a success…
"How could I not, right? We kind of slid in in terms of being bubble at best for an at-large bid, so we knew that we had to go in and win our conference tournament to get into the tournament. I feel like that pressure was something we responded to and bam, we got on a roll right when we needed to and went out and pretty much dominated our conference tournament, dominated regionals last weekend, and then ran up against a great Utah team. I couldn't think of anything other than this being a success in terms of how we competed and how we showed up. We got better as the year went along and that is what a coach's dream is. That we are playing our best softball at the end of the year. All of those things happened and we did it together. This was one for the books for sure."
Pitcher – Allie Light
On the pitching battle between teams…
"Whether you are in the pitching circle or the box, the fight is the same. Kudos to Lopez. She for sure led her team this weekend and I fought my hardest to do the same. I think she relied on her defense a lot just how I had to as well. We really went head-to-head this weekend, but the fight is the same no matter what so I focus less on trying to beat the other pitcher, but more just giving everything that I have for my team and I can confidently say I did that this weekend."
First Base – Alexis Otero
On the message from the seniors to the team postgame…
"I just think we couldn't be prouder of this program and to be Aztecs as a whole. I know we have a lot of girls in the senior class that are transfers, so to be able to come out and have the most historic run was incredible. Overall, I just think we are super proud and excited to see where this program goes in years to come."
On what playing for San Diego State meant to her…
"The world. I transferred here and I actually walked on and Coach Nuve gave me a chance. It has been the best experience that I could have ever asked for. I am a San Diego native, so coming home and playing at home in front of my family and friends has been incredible. The group of girls that is at San Diego State… I couldn't have asked for better group of sisters and a better tribe."