2021 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

June 22, 2021

David Pierce

Texas Longhorns

Postgame Press Conference

Texas - 8, Tennessee - 4

THE MODERATOR: Coach, a brief opening statement.

COACH PIERCE: I just thought we did a great job of competing all day, from top to bottom. We had so many stars, so many guys that stepped up today. That's what we needed.

It was so clutch in the second when they put up two and EK's big three-run home run. Two tremendous double plays that we turned with the 5-2-3 by Silas on the pick and picking up Cam, and then tremendous job of Mitch going to the 4 hole in the 4-6-3 double play.

And then just kept tacking on runs, a couple two-out RBIs and then just Tanner Witt. And you look at Tanner there, it's the most that he's extended this year in a time we needed it. And Tristan Stevens has been so consistent for us. That's why you call it a staff. And that's why you call it a team. So many guys stepped up today, which we needed.

Q. I imagine you weren't surprised at all about this team's response today. But what kind of vibe did you get from them in those moments following the loss and in practice and in some downtime before today's game?

COACH PIERCE: They were frustrated. They were embarrassed. The way we got beat, if we would have lost a 2-1 game and we hit a lot of hard ground balls or line drives and they made plays, that would be one thing. But just to get embarrassed -- it's a good staff and a dang good team in Mississippi State.

But I just think that their work that they put in from day one came out. And you have to be able to trust it, but then you also have to understand if we continue to stay frustrated we're not going to play well today. So there's a very mature approach by them -- not slamming anything, not pointing fingers, just understanding that it was a bad day. And we still have opportunity to play.

Q. Silas isn't a rookie, obviously, but when did you kind of know that he was going to be that guy, that he was going to be a guy who could make the defensive plays that he's made the last two days and manages his pitching staff for you guys?

COACH PIERCE: He's just got a knack to soothe the pitching staff. He's very good with them. They're best friends. He has a sense of humor when he's off the field. Very respectful. And this kid just comes to play every single day.

And that's what I see in this team. We talked there at the end. It's not even about anyone's numbers right now. It's just about competing and competing together and just playing for that next game.

He's been tremendous. I mean, behind the plate, the things he does that are so good that are unnoticed. And then when he steps up on a big play like today and threw a couple of guys out the other day against Mississippi State. He's kind of a rock for us back there.

I credit him, Coach Miller, D.J. Petrinsky has been unbelievable with Silas in a new role. And I just appreciate the work that they put in.

Q. Expanding on Silas a little bit, the play in the third and the base hit to untie the game 4-4. Those two plays had to be the biggest two. And that could have changed the game either way. Could you talk about him just coming up big in those moments?

COACH PIERCE: Huge. Just trusting himself. I mean, the play -- bases loaded, nobody out -- and Cam just goosed the ball. And Silas never panicked. Looked like a shortstop on the pick. And then throws a strike.

I mean, I told him just now it's one of the best plays I've ever seen -- ever -- because of the situation. If that ball gets past him, they score two, with two guys -- they score two and have a runner at second and third with nobody out. It could have unravelled on us. For me that was the play of the game, no doubt. And then the big two-out RBIs.

Q. Tanner Witt kind of saved your bullpen for the rest of the series, correct?

COACH PIERCE: Yes, he did. To be in the losers' bracket, 1-1, we're in pretty good shape with our arms. We feel like we have Pete ready to go, if that's who we go with. We've still got to talk about it. And then you've still got a lot of guys fresh. You may see Tristan Stevens later in this series as well.

And thank you for mentioning that. That was a big deal for our team and our staff.

Q. You talked about the maturity of the team showed. Do you think that's shown through the most in that fourth inning when it was a really fiery and competitive game. Both teams seemed -- I don't know if your team was chippy; Tennessee was obviously chippy. Do you think that's when it has shown through the most in this game?

COACH PIERCE: No doubt. I think we held our composures when things were getting emotional. Our guys did a nice job of allowing that to just happen, not get caught up in it and just play the game.

We worked so hard to play this game and they appreciate it. And that's what they do. They kind of sat back, allowed it to pass and then just keep playing.

Q. Tanner told us earlier that he wanted to go out for the ninth. He felt his momentum was at an all-time high going into the last frame. Did you tell him anything before he took the mound on the ninth inning? And overall just his performance, what does this mean for the future of Texas pitching?

COACH PIERCE: His performance was just outstanding on the biggest stage when the team needed him more so than ever. When you get postseason baseball, guys have to step up. And he did exactly that. The only thing I told him is that if you're out of gas, Nixon wants the ball. And he's ready to go. And that was a fun moment because he definitely wanted the ball.

Q. Tomorrow morning when you go down for breakfast at the hotel, you can leave your bags in the room. That's got to feel good. How important was it for you guys not only to get this win to stay alive but to put the Mississippi State thing in the past and get back to playing the type of ball we've seen all year?

COACH PIERCE: No, I think it's so important because we've worked so hard for these moments. And we didn't want to leave here with a bitter taste. We still have a lot of baseball, in our minds, to play. So that next opportunity, it's huge for us.

And you look up and down our lineup we still have a lot of young players. For them to have that experience of playing in Omaha, and then to kind of position themselves to catch their breath, have another practice and get into the flow of this tournament.

I know in '18, we played the opening game. We lost that one. Then we had to come back in the losers' bracket and it seemed like we were in and out of Omaha. And I think it benefits our team if we could just get in the flow of this tournament and understand we can play with anybody in the country.

Q. What was the difference in your guys at the plate today as compared to Game 1?

COACH PIERCE: They got challenged. We challenged them yesterday at practice. It's just not acceptable. We talked about a lot of things that happened to us that we were in coach prevention. And sometimes young people just don't pay attention as much as they need to.

And when you get humiliated and you get stung, either you're going to back down and tuck your tail, or you're going to do something about it. And they made a commitment they're going to try to shorten up their swings, if they've got to get off the knob, just whatever it is to find a way to get to 90.

It's not so much being the guy that comes out with the big hit; just don't force your at-bats, trust yourself, trust all the work that you've put in, trust your coaches, and then catch your breath and enjoy the competition.

I mean, this is what you prepare for. And so why press that and put yourself in a position where you're feeling anxiety? It's many times easier said than done. But it's just another baseball game. And there's more people watching. It's a national audience, but it's still a game. And that's how we have to approach it.

Q. We're not that far removed from Eric basically being a platoon guy or a guy where his confidence was really low. He has a walk-off hit in the Super Regional, a three-run homer today. How much different has he been in his confidence the last few weeks? And how much of a different lineup are you guys when he's providing that presence, things like stealing third when a guy throws behind him at second base and it ends up being a run for you guys?

COACH PIERCE: He puts so much pressure on you in so many ways. As a pitcher or a staff, you're always telling yourselves do not let those two guys beat you with a base on ball. They're going to have to earn it. Take the bunt away.

So if they're having the right approach they tend to get good pitches to hit. And you definitely noticed his confidence go up. And I just think, playing the game, and it's a difficult game, when you start trying to change things or trying to replace guys in the lineup, it never works. So you've got to fight through that.

Eric has earned the right to be a starter. And he earned the right to fail and struggle. And so now his confidence is back. And we are definitely happy that he's seeing the ball well and helping this team win.

Q. I'm sure it wasn't easy to go grab Tristan there in the fourth. When did you know it was time to make that move and how quickly can he bounce back from a 60ish-pitch outing?

COACH PIERCE: We always talk about how the ball gives you information. And he was a little flat. He couldn't get his slider down. They were barreling balls. He walked three guys. It was so uncharacteristic of Tristan Stevens.

I mean, just talked to him in the dugout. It's like we're never going to ask guys to be perfect. But he was awesome. He understood it. And he already told me that he wants the ball.

And so that's huge. He'll be able to bounce back. We'll probably have to get through Thursday before he's eligible to help us.