2021 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

June 22, 2021

Eric Kennedy

Texas Longhorns

Postgame Press Conference

Texas - 8, Tennessee - 4

Q. Eric, that fourth inning was one of the -- that was the intense point of this game. Did you feel like your team, having a lot of experience with these different postseason situations, had an advantage and was able to stay a little bit calmer than the Volunteers were?

ERIC KENNEDY: Oh yeah, for sure. Going back to Super Regional, USF hit that tying two-run home run in the top of the ninth. So, we were ready for any situation. That's the way we like it. We don't want it to be easy. We were ready for whatever Tennessee had for us. They're a great ballclub and we kept our heads down and kept going to work and grinding at-bats.

Q. Was there any panic in this team after Mississippi State? And what was kind of going on at practice yesterday? And how did you guys feel when you came to the ballpark today?

ERIC KENNEDY: There's no panic. Obviously striking out 21 times in a game is unacceptable. But after the game Coach Pierce is, like, keep your head up, we'll go to work tomorrow. That's exactly what we did.

We had a great batting practice yesterday and got our good work in. We had a team meeting, kind of cleared our minds, put that game behind us.

And then coming out and taking BP on the field today you could tell everybody was super focused and everybody was ready to go. That's in the past -- nobody's thinking about that game anymore.

Q. That big at-bat in the second inning, you've talked about starting your swing earlier, getting that foot down, getting that timing. Take us through the at-bat. You fouled off that pitch barely to stay alive. Looks like you got a hard fastball down the middle and put a great swing on it?

ERIC KENNEDY: I was just trying to get, like you said, get started early. And luckily I caught enough of a piece of that one before that. He threw me all fastballs. I don't know how many pitches it was prior to the home run, six or seven fastballs. So I had my timing down.

The pitch before I fouled that off. Luckily he left one right over the middle plate and I was ready for it, having seen several fastballs throughout the at-bat.

Q. Just wanted to ask about Silas, came up with a really huge RBI double helped you turn that double play when you had the bases loaded no outs. What's it for you all to watch the young guy turn into a playmaker for you especially on this stage?

ERIC KENNEDY: It's awesome. He goes to work for us every day. It's tough being a catcher. Obviously you have to hit but then you have to deal with the pitchers. After every at-bat he'll have the starting pitcher or whoever is in the game at that time asking him stuff. And Coach Allen will be talking about opposing teams hitters with him.

He's been grinding all year. He's a great catcher, the best in the country. It was awesome to see him come through with that big hit. He's been working as hard as anybody, and it was awesome to see him come through.

Q. You guys seemed really loose today, even after you all got behind. And obviously, like you said, there was no panic at all. But did you feel like you played more Texas baseball today with your defense, clutch hitting, Tanner Witt's pitching?

ERIC KENNEDY: Yes, for sure. Playing loose, starting the ninth inning against Mississippi State, we were all kind of laughing, Tulo was laughing. It's, like, it can't get any worse, play loose, let it fly.

We did have a little rally then and it carried over into today. That's what the big message was in the meeting yesterday was just stay loose, enjoy it. We're here for a reason. But just stay loose and if we play our game not many people are going to be able to beat us.

Q. When you break down Tanner's game, first appearance in the College World Series, like most of you all, but for him being a freshman and to do what he did for as many innings to close out the game, what's that say about him and the future of Texas pitching?

ERIC KENNEDY: Future of Texas pitching is in good hands. As a freshman he's the most poised pitcher I've ever seen. Nothing fazes him. He's been nails all season, and that just continued on the biggest stage.

I know a lot of guys, if that was their first appearance, they would be walking a bunch of guys or not have their stuff. But he was able to do what he's been doing all year, and he's been great for us all year. It's so fun to watch. You know when he gets in the game the other team is going to be shut down, and we have to rely on our bats to get it going.

Q. Two games into this thing now do you feel like whether it's the environment or getting used to the stadium or just being in Omaha for the first time, all that stuff is kind of out of everybody's system and you guys are just focused on just playing your game, playing baseball?

ERIC KENNEDY: Yeah, for sure. I think the few at-bats for each one of us, it was kind of eye opening with the huge crowd and the great environment. But once we got settled down -- we showed it today -- we got settled down and we were back to doing what we do. And it was graduate it to see everybody come through with big hits and our pitching and defense do great as well.

Q. I know you hit that bomb and you had some timely hitting today, but what did those two double plays in the third and fourth inning do for the spirit in that dugout?

ERIC KENNEDY: They were huge. That double play, I believe we turned the half inning after the home run. They had bases loaded, no outs, and just that changed the whole momentum of the whole inning and pretty much the rest of the game.

It could have gotten away from us really easily, but Cam and Si with a great backhand. Not many catchers would be able to do that. Getting the guy at first, seemed like they were getting back in it, but that sucked the life out of them and we were able to take advantage of that later.

We just played great defense. And it was awesome to see us suck the life out of their offense.