Arizona 3, Oregon State 1
THE MODERATOR: This is the Game 6 press conference featuring the Arizona Wildcats.
Questions for our student-athletes to start, please.
Q. Devyn, could you describe the feeling of being out there in the circle getting that start today, that being your first start in the women's College World Series.
DEVYN METZ: I probably have to describe it as something that was not as nerve-wracking as it was trying to get here. I know my nerves were pretty high against Mississippi State. I know coming in here, I have nothing to lose. I know I have a bull in the bullpen, a good offense, a good defense, so it's just a matter of time.
Q. Devyn, you gave up the run in the second inning, then really settled down. I think you only had one more base runner. How did you bring it back together?
DEVYN METZ: Kind of knowing that my teammates had my back. At this level everyone is going to score at least one run, two runs. This is post-season, so this is going to be a tight game no matter what.
I knew if I just trusted in my team, they were going to have my back.
Q. Carlie, can you talk about the offense's approach against Mason? You seemed to be able to chip away, put together runs, come through when you needed it the most.
CARLIE SCUPIN: Yeah, I think we prepared a lot because we saw her a lot during conference play. We all kind of knew the game plan going in. I think it was just a matter of executing, so...
Q. Devyn and Hanah, can you talk about the dynamic of Devyn being replaced in the sixth inning after pitching strongly, Hanah coming in and closing the door.
DEVYN METZ: I think just a different look. Coming into the game, I was throwing a lot of down stuff. I could tell that the Oregon State hitters started to move back. I knew they must have saw something.
I knew if I just kind of throwed through Shar, I was going to be able to, like, hit a ball in the park. I know Bo coming in was super helpful because it's just a different eye level than changing level.
HANAH BOWEN: Like Devyn said, just a different look. She was throwing more down, off speed. I was throwing more up. I think it was just a different look for everybody.
Q. Bo, did you know going in you were both going to pitch today, or was that something that was kind of play by ear?
HANAH BOWEN: It was play by ear. I was in first relief, but I knew Devyn was going to go as long as she could. She was doing phenomenal, so...
Q. Devyn, you seemed to get stronger as the game wore on. You started out with a couple strike-outs in the first inning, gave up the run, then came back, really commanded it. What is it that gives you that as the game goes on you get stronger and more in command?
DEVYN METZ: Just confidence in my teammates and kind of trusting my pitches and trusting my spins, knowing that if I throw to a certain zone or a certain spot, my teammates are going to back me up defensively. I know if I get out of there defensively, my team is going to back me up offensively.
Q. Carlie, what went into that sixth inning rally where you guys were trying to find a rhythm offensively, then you finally break through to go on top?
CARLIE SCUPIN: Yeah, I think as a team we really had all good at-bats at the game. We had to execute at some point. It could have been any of us. We just all had to come through.
Q. Hanah and Devyn, beyond this game, over the course of the post-season, whether it's strategy, motivation, how have you two been able to help each other out, get each other to a higher level?
HANAH BOWEN: I think just feeding off each other. She brings great energy. I bring great energy. I think just building one another and just keep competing.
DEVYN METZ: I'd say a lot of work has gone into our relationship, both in the bullpen and off the field. It's something we've had to work on because we faced a lot of adversity during conference play. When we came here, we knew we had a clean slate. Knowing that is pretty fun. It's been fun playing with you, Bo.
Q. Carlie, can you talk about your RBI double and what you saw at that at-bat.
CARLIE SCUPIN: I saw a lot of pitches during that at-bat. I just had to make the adjustment. My first two swings were not very pretty, but I just had to trust myself.
Q. Carlie, can you talk about how uplifting it is to see players like Blaise and Sophia get big hits.
CARLIE SCUPIN: Yeah, it was super awesome to see them come through tonight. I'm really proud of them. I was telling Shar, I almost cried when Blaise got the hit to score the third run. I'm proud of both of them.
Q. How does it feel to contribute to Coach's first win in the College World Series?
HANAH BOWEN: It's amazing. Cait is phenomenal. She has so much knowledge to the game. I love feeding off of her. She deserves it.
DEVYN METZ: It's super fun to play for Cait. It's super I'd say like laid back, knowing she trusts all of us to do our job. I think that's what she brings to the game, is that, and to our team, is that quiet confidence, that calm confidence that we can do it. Just knowing she trusts in us is pretty awesome, as well.
CARLIE SCUPIN: Yeah, pretty much the same thing. We trust her and we know she trusts us. We know we have each other's back.
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Coach, please.
Q. Can you talk about what saw out of Devyn today, put the one inning behind her?
CAITLIN LOWE: Well, it actually started yesterday the way she came in in relief. She came out on fire, just went at people. I think when you asked her the people, Devyn is a winner, so when she gets closer and closer, she usually gets better and better.
I thought it was the right time to bring Bo in, and the different look was nice to have. They're spot on. The relationship got better throughout the season. Now they lean on each other. They want to complete those games together, so I think that helps a lot.
Q. We talked yesterday about one pitch being the difference in the game. Can you talk about what was the difference today in that one pitch going your way and what your girls learned.
CAITLIN LOWE: Well, I think it was a lot of pitches. Honestly we talked about being feistier in our at-bats yesterday just to make things happen. I thought we put pressure on all night long.
Yeah, Carlie Scupin came through with that one big pitch. Let me tell you, that's the most calm, cool, collected her all year. For it to be on this stage is pretty cool.
Q. Arizona, Oregon State were probably two of the last three or four teams to get in the field. Did it strike you at all before the game kind of how both your teams sort of grit and all that to get here?
CAITLIN LOWE: I think a lot of people are surprised and it just doesn't shock me because our conference, it's hard. Every single team is good. Every single weekend we have great competition.
I think no game is going to be easy going into that conference. So I don't think either of us are surprised. Oregon State ace great team. Mazon is a great pitcher who had a great career. Hats off to them because they put up a fight. That last inning they made it tough.
Never surprised by the Pac-12 conference because we really do have some of the best teams in the country.
Q. You said you felt it was the right time to make the pitching change. What did you see or what were you feeling that made you feel that way?
CAITLIN LOWE: Well, I think they were starting to hit some balls hard. Our defense was doing a great job, but then Bo comes in and she provides a different look. Just a different eye level. Anytime you can do that as a hitter, at least you have to make the adjustment to execute. I thought just a good time for Bo to come in fresh and Devyn to come out on a high note, too.
Q. ESPN showed you giving a hug to Coach Berg after the game. Talk about that exchange.
CAITLIN LOWE: Well, yeah, she's actually -- she's a little under the weather, so she didn't want to hug me at first (smiling). I was like, C'mon, Bergy. I went in for it.
I just have such a special relationship. I started a really long time ago when I was little. She's been my idol as an outfielder, as a softball player, as a human being. I was lucky enough that she played so long I got to play with her. She's one of my favorite teammates I've ever had. She's a great coach. I know her players look up to her, and she does things the right way.
Q. A fun one. I noticed early on, then when you broke it open, in the dugout you broke out the rally caps, the firemen's hats. When did you start that? Did you pick it up this morning?
CAITLIN LOWE: Honestly, we got Firehouse subs before the game. So they gave us firemen hats with the Firehouse subs. Our bats were going to be on fire today, so we just rolled with it.
Q. How does it feel to pick up your first win on this stage?
CAITLIN LOWE: It feels awesome. I told them after the game that they were meant for this stage, and I truly believe they were going to chip away and make it happen. Nothing really got too big. They were amped at the beginning of the game, but they knew they were going to win that game on this stage. That's a big deal.
I've seen this team grow up in the post-season and go from wanting to be here to knowing they belong here and knowing that they're going to win here. I mean, in three weeks, that's huge. So super excited for them.
Q. What does it mean to you as a head coach to see Devyn be the first player out of the dugout to greet Hanah and also to see players like Blaise and Sophia have some key hits for you?
CAITLIN LOWE: Well, it's what you live for. It's what makes the game so great, when you have that joy for your teammate's performance. You've kind of come full circle and you just have get it, you get how to play the game the right way. I think it's so important.
Soph works her butt off every single day. Any good contact, any base hit, she is the happiest person in the world. You know what she's even happier for? A great sac bunt. That's just a good teammate. She deserves all of it.
Blaise has been grinding, hasn't felt great, but found a way to bloop something in so we could score a run.
Very excited about how they've kind of stayed the course throughout the season, too.
Q. You mentioned that seventh inning where Oregon State was able to put a bit of a rally. Talk about Hanah Bowen being able to get out of that inning and close out the game.
CAITLIN LOWE: Closing out was huge. I thought there was a tough ball three call on the nine hole hitter. She might have let that get to her earlier in the season, and she just didn't. She kept composed with a great leadoff hitter that came up to bat next. I think that's where the maturity and her leadership comes in. She's like, So what? Next out. I think that was really important.
Q. In terms of Devyn and Bo building that relationship you've been talking about, it was something that you and Taryne were able to find ways to accelerate that over the course of the year, or do you wait and hope those two people figure each other out?
CAITLIN LOWE: I really think it's been our whole team. They had to get kind of a little bit vulnerable. It sounds so corny, but we talked about being like Swiss cheese at the beginning of the year: As slices of Swiss cheese, we've got our holes and our flaws, not everyone is perfect. As the block of Swiss cheese, we are perfect, this perfect chunk and piece together.
They realized that they could do it together and have those weaknesses, have those flaws. We needed something up in the zone. Devyn doesn't throw that, that's not her specialty. Bo comes in and does it for her. That makes my heart happy that they're leaning on each other, not just in the circle, but all around, offense, defense and in the circle.
Q. You were a great defensive player. Speak to your defense in helping you get this win.
CAITLIN LOWE: I thought a few players, a handful, Paige Dimler in right field was huge, and not just for the out but for the energy that it provided us. I thought Carlie Scupin made that play look way easier than it was. I thought Izzy Pacho at third base was lights out. Those could have been in the five, six hole easy. Even Sophia Carroll almost throwing the runner out from the five-six hole.
I just thought the momentum was there all day. It fed us into our offense, too.
THE MODERATOR: Coach, congratulations.
CAITLIN LOWE: Thank you.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports