What Caitlin Lowe and Regan Shockey said after Arizona’s loss to Oklahoma

A day after Arizona softball upset Oklahoma in the series opener, the Sooners returned the favor with a resounding beatdown Saturday.

Arizona let OU get 21 runs across the plate in a game that was all but over after the first inning of play. Arizona coach Caitlin Lowe wasn’t in a bad mood postgame, however, instead insisting the loss could be an early-season motivator.

“We grow through these moments, not the 11-6 win,” Lowe said.
“Those are awesome, but at the same time this is going to build us into a better team if we approach it right.”

Our recap of the game can be found here. Below is what Lowe and Regan Shockey said after the game.

Lowe on Arizona getting behind early: “We got behind in counts. We knew that we were gonna have to get ahead and then be able to chase them out of the zone. I think we got way too behind and then had to throw some stuff that they were looking for. Anytime with good hitters like that it’s gonna get us in trouble, but I think collectively just all around a tough performance, I think defensively, offensively, all of it. 
I think we have to wipe it and get back to work and learn from this. But just be better.”

On preparation for Sunday’s game: “I think we’ve seen, I mean there are no cards left to play on either team. 
We’ve seen everything, so I think it’s who shows up and executes tomorrow. We knew day one that it’s gonna start 0-0, and who executes better softball game. We did on day one. 
They did on day two, obviously. And I think, a little lopsided on both days, and then it’s gut check time, you know? They responded in a big way today, and it’s up to us to respond tomorrow. I think that is the character building experience. That is showing up and being different. And really staying together. We grow through these moments, not the 11-6 win.
Those are awesome, but at the same time this is going to build us into a better team if we approach it right. I think it’s gut check time, and it’s time to figure out how we’re gonna respond and what we’re made of.” 


On Arizona’s struggles at the plate against OU’s Audrey Lowry: “Honestly, I think the first inning got to us, and we didn’t respond right away. It took us a second, where, yesterday, I think we were going blow for blow all day long. It seemed like we got punched, and it took too long to (adjust). This team had a great game plan coming in, and we didn’t execute and that’s not us. I think just being locked in for what it looks like, now we’ve seen her. 
We’ve seen everyone, so it’s just a matter of who steps in there and executes in big moments.”

On pitcher Rylie Holder’s availability: “She’s not available this weekend. She’s day to day. She’s just coming back from something.”

On what Arizona is getting from this series: “Well, things that I’m learning about people is who is performing in the big moments, who’s showing up for us. What does our new players look like in this type of environment? So we’re learning a whole lot. 
I mean, I thought Jenae Berry had some really great moments today that she’s gonna learn and grow from throughout the season. So I think it’s just taking something from this in big games, and figuring out how we’re gonna execute at a high level. And that was the challenge for today that we didn’t come through on, but we have another chance tomorrow. And it feels like a ton of losses, and now the series is tied 1-1 So I think that’s the hard part, is not to look at it as, so many losses, but, like, these are the facts. It’s a 1-1 series.
It’s a rubber match tomorrow, and it’s up to who shows up.”

On not getting too caught up in the score in a blowout loss: “Yeah, I mean we’re trying to keep Jalen (Adams) fresh. I think those are the facts of the matter. So it’s tough, you know? And when you’re throwing three arms out there, that’s kind of the situation that we’re in. But at the end of the day, like, we needed to test people, and Jalen came in late … but we’re gonna meet everybody tomorrow, you know? I think it’s a good lineup where we have to go matchup based, because everyone’s been seen, and I think it’s probably the same thing on their side, And then what they’re gonna think about tonight, too. Everybody’s gonna come with their chess pieces ready to go, and then who shows up and executes.”

On this series feeling like a postseason scenario: “Oh, this whole weekend has like a postseason matchup, which is great. I think the hardest thing is that’s happening in February, because it’s, like, right off the bat, and we’re facing best competition right away. And at the same time, it’s so great that we’re facing it in February. I think it’s gonna do wonders for the team, and what we do from here on forward. Sometimes it’s week two, week three, before we get into these type of matchups. It’s for sure longer than that for it to be a three game series against a team like this. We’re figuring out a whole lot about ourselves, and then our message has always been week to week, we’re learning, growing, and getting better from every single weekend.”

On concerns about where the overall pitching is right now: “Yeah, I mean, of course. I think anytime, and that’s the thing, everyone didn’t have a good performance. And sometimes you get exposed on the mound, but it was a bad performance top to bottom. It’s how they stay together now, and not taking this as their reality, but going back to work and understanding that it’s a day. An we have a whole lot more games to play in the scope of things, and making sure we make adjustments for the next one.”

Shockey on Arizona’s offensive struggles: “I think they had a very good ace on the mound. She did her job. We didn’t stick to our plan necessarily, and they capitalized on that. They’re a good team that’s going to pump good pitches. They’re great pitch callers as well. We just got to stick to our plan and do what we prepared for and trust our preparation.”

On responding from this loss: “Nobody likes losing, but it’s a challenge. Right now it’s a 1-1 series and it’s just one loss. Even though the score whatever it may be, it’s a loss. And that’s that. We have to be where our feet are, and right now we’re focused on tomorrow, our next game, and being a better team. All in all that’s our main focus as a team. Having each other’s back. Everybody needs to get punched in the face here and then. That’s how you get stronger, that’s how you get better, that’s how you get smarter. And then the best thing we can do right now is just learn from our failures.”

On the highs and lows of this series: “It’s called the game of softball, right? It’s a game of failure, but our main priority right now is just staying here. Yes yesterday was a high but we did a good job of staying here and today is a low but we’re going to stay here and we’re going to respond that way. Our coaching staff is also very level-headed. There’s no panic on their side either. We’re not panicked. We’re just next day ahead, eyes forward, all that stuff.”

On preparing for Sunday’s finale: “I just think if we’re playing seven innings of Arizona softball, it’ll be a great game. I think just trust our preparation like we’ve done this whole year, like we did yesterday, and we saw the outcome. And tomorrow that’s gonna be the gameplan, same as today, same as yesterday.”