Kelly Inouye-Perez reveals message she sent pitching staff before Super Regional vs. Georgia

Maya Brady’s first inning solo home run put UCLA up early against the Georgia Bulldogs on Thursday night. The Bruins added to their total in the third and took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning.

During that stretch, UCLA pitcher Kaitlyn Terry managed to pitch 4.0 innings of scoreless softball while allowing one hit and three walks. All four runners were left on base as Terry continued wrapping up her second time through the Bulldogs order.

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Amid Terry’s strong performance on the mound, Bruins head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez revealed the message that she sent to her pitching staff before the Los Angeles Super Regional.

“I strongly suggested not to miss over the plate,” Inouye-Perez said, joking with the ESPN2 broadcast on Thursday. “They swing big. We know that — I know that’s their game. I told them that they had to execute pitches, you know, like your ability to understand when to throw strikes and when to kind of stretch the zone.

“They’re just higher level. We know that they can hit the long ball. KT is doing a great job of just being able to hit spots, and kind of mix it up all over the place. I’m really proud of how she’s performing.”

Not only has Terry been on fire on the mound — but her surrounding pitching players have bailed her out on occasion as well. More than once runners have been help up a base early or a spectacular play was made to force an out.

“I mean, I can’t say enough, right? But we do have a saying. We say ‘9 on 1,’ so they all have each other’s backs,” Inouye-Perez said of her team’s defensive philosophy. “But the plays that that Jadely [Allchin] and [Janelle Meono] are making. I mean, it can’t help but be breathe confidence in the pitching staff. I mean, that ball was squared and her ability to literally prevent that double — those are the things that you need at this time of the year.”

If the Bruins can hang on to the lead, taking a 1-0 series lead in the Super Regional round will go a long way in UCLA’s efforts in making it back to the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2022.

After Thursday’s game is decided, the Bruins and Bulldogs will match up once again on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET. Game three, if necessary, is TBD.