2021 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

June 24, 2021

David Pierce

Texas Longhorns

Postgame Press Conference

Texas - 6, Virginia - 2

Q. Wanted to get your thoughts on Zach's big hit. And also just what did you make of it, just with him and Ivan really stepping up when the pitch count was high and when you needed it the most?

COACH PIERCE: They're just such factors in our lineup because they're the bangers. We've got some speed guys, and they've got to be the guys that are able to get the runners in and clutch hit. Just really, hats off to both of them for continuing to put the work in and giving themselves and our team an opportunity there.

Q. You got more great innings from Cole and Aaron. How big is your bullpen, just what they've been able to do over these past few days helped you get to this point?

COACH PIERCE: They've been outstanding for three-quarters of the year. Once we settled roles, just outstanding. I mean, I don't know what else to say. Pete did a nice job of just giving us an opportunity to win. And Cole gave us, I think, four outs. We went to Nix right there, got big double play. That was big for those guys to settle in, attack the zone and trust their stuff.

Q. Before Ivan's at-bat you pulled him aside. What was the conversation there with him?

COACH PIERCE: The first thing I told him, I said the kid really likes to come set and go. So it's really quick, really quick. And just reminded him to settle it down. He belongs in this spot and he's a great hitter. And great hitters want to be in this spot for opportunity. And he just came through.

Q. Still standing, and after the first game, what does this do for your confidence? You guys could have went away but you didn't?

COACH PIERCE: We're not going away. I mean, this team is just resilient. They can be ugly at times, play unbelievable defense and pitch. Opportunistic offensively.

Huge blow by Zach right there after a great play by their shortstop -- Doug's gotta do a better job on that slide -- but a great play by their shortstop. Tough at-bat for Cam.

Almost let them off the hook. Go 3-2 and Zach gets a pitch and -- big time for us. That's what they've been doing, they like competing. I was really interested in watching them when we came in after the two-run home run see how we respond and they just keep going. That's the beauty about this team. And they just keep going. They're going to play until the end.

Q. Obviously with the delay, I mentioned earlier with some of the players, the resilience and the fight of this team, how proud are you of the way these kids overcome the big weather and the big inning in the ninth? What was going through your mind when that was happening?

COACH PIERCE: Well, the weather delay, it's just kind of something we deal with. We started seeing or having a saying back in the early spring, no matter what the conditions are, if we have adverse calls, it's just the way we like it. So we just try to change the mindset in a positive way and in our favor.

Q. And the big explosive scoring in the ninth. What was going through your mind when you started seeing your team scoring against UVA's pitching?

COACH PIERCE: Doug did a nice job drawing a walk. And EK constantly puts pressure on people. If he gets a bunt down on either side it's usually going to be a bang, bang, play. And they'll have to be quick with the ball. And EK does that consistently.

Si is going to put the sac over, move two runners in position and gets hit by a pitch. And then I thought Mike's at-bat was great. Their shortstop, man, it was just a heck of a play.

Fortunately we got the blow. I'm just proud of our team. You never know how it's going to happen but we always have the mindset we'll figure it out. Some way we're going to try to figure out how to win this thing.

Q. How much did Zach need that hit in the ninth just to get something going within him? And how good was laying off that 2-2 breaking ball?

COACH PIERCE: Well, Zach is a guy that at times frustrates you because he gets so deep in counts and he has hitter's pitchers and 2-1 counts and he's still working the count. And Tulo and I talked a lot -- I can't talk to Zach during the game because I want to tell him to swing the bat but at the same time I can't get in his head and make him change his approach.

And the previous at-bat before his last one, he predetermined I'm going to swing early. And it wasn't even close pitch. I said, you've got to see the ball. And when we were talking at third base I said, man, you've been in the 3 hole since the middle of March for a reason. You're a great hitter; you're one of the best hitters on our team. Relax, see the ball and trust yourself. That was, of course, after the big hit. No, it wasn't, it was actually before that.

But just to watch him just catch his breath. He needed that so badly. He's an emotional kid. And a great leader for us but at the same time he's just got to trust himself over and over, just kind of a given theme from us. But see the baseball, get a good pitch, be ready to hit.

Q. We saw Ty jogging out to the bullpen in the game. I'm assuming he's going to be the guy later for you tonight. And also your team had so many opportunities to get frustrated, whether it was what was going on the mound or the defense that UVA was playing. Did you ever get a sense at any point in the game that those guys were frustrated at all?

COACH PIERCE: No. We're playing in Omaha for a national championship. They're pumped. It's just -- we tell them as well, we don't want it easy. It's going to be hard. We understand it. They're going to have blows. We're going to have to accept them and just keep playing.

So I didn't sense anything like that. And I pay attention. I just watch the bench and see the reactions. And at times they'll get frustrated right after an at-bat. They have the ability to get over it and go play defense. So pretty special group right now.

Q. Ty later today?

COACH PIERCE: Later today, eh? Pretty good percentage that that's going to happen, but not ready to make that decision yet.