2021 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

June 25, 2021

David Pierce

Texas Longhorns

Postgame Press Conference

Texas - 8, Mississippi State - 5

COACH PIERCE: Just another great game, two great teams going at it. I thought we did a nice job getting the lead and extending that. But at the same time, we knew they were going to make a run. And unfortunately we walked four guys in the eighth to open the door for them and they did a great job of tying it up.

But that's one thing about this team is they don't give in and we were able to come back with a big blow by Ivan. But Ty Madden was Ty Madden. He was outstanding. Got enough from Tanner and finished it with Nick. We keep talking about living for the next game and having an opportunity. And, so, that's what we have now.

Q. After the long break, you stuck with Aaron. What was the thought process about sending him back out there after kind of a lengthy break?

COACH PIERCE: I've been in that situation many times. I've talked to medical teams, I understand it. As long as you're not in any kind of stress situation, just want to keep your body loose or hot and basically play light catch about every 15, 20 minutes and just keep moving. That's what he did. He was ready to go. We were good there.

It wasn't that difficult of a decision. It's something that we trusted with Aaron, and that's what we did.

Q. Obviously Zach and Ivan have been huge for you all the past two nights. Looks like a totally different team when they're just smashing in the heart of the order. What's reenergizing those guys? On the last at-bat for Ivan, what was that like to watch him blast that into the stands?

COACH PIERCE: I knew when it came off his bat it was gone. He absolutely hammered that pitch. He just missed a fastball maybe just a bit higher. And I give Ivan so much credit for just being ready for that pitch and being ready to swing the bat and wanting to be in that situation.

He did a great job of just having confidence in the box and wanting to help his team win and just did a great job with that.

We were able to kind of -- and it's kind of the way our offense is kind of built, but to have our speed at the top and speed at the bottom and Silas in between that, to allow him to do some things with the bat if possible. And then just putting those guys together. And if we get Zach and Ivan, one of the two or both of them, I mean it changes our lineup for sure.

Q. I know you go to Tanner when you're up 5-2. How do you walk that fine line between do I use my guy tonight, or do I hopefully try to stick it out and save him for the next day? I know it's a very difficult decision for you guys.

COACH PIERCE: I mean, they're a good-hitting team. They're a team that can get momentum quickly. And Tanner's excellent at countering that with his emotions and his ability to just go in and trust what he does and competes his tail off.

To me it wasn't a tough question. He's been that guy in that slot. Our biggest question is after his outing on Tuesday, how much he could go without pushing it. And we probably walked a thin line there. But we're in June right now.

Q. You guys have been through so much. You mentioned the response of this team, but have you ever been through something quite like that eighth inning when the walks happen and you turn around and Ivan hits the blast? What's kind of the emotion, take us in that dugout. Was everyone still even keeled even as the lead disappeared and to come right back?

COACH PIERCE: First of all, we've had back-to-back long nights, a 3-hour, 40-minute delay last night, two hours tonight. I'm sitting there behind the team looking at them just hoping that they can just engage and get their minds back into finishing this game. But, I'm sorry, I kind of got on a tangent. What was the actual question?

Q. I was going to ask you the emotions of the group, from all the highs to the lows, what did you see from those guys down there?

COACH PIERCE: You know what, I think our bench and our coaches do a really good job of not letting them drop their head, not letting them -- just basically when they come in just, hey, we've got this, just keep playing.

So I credit the bench and the coaches as well. Nobody's slamming things. Nobody's just frustrated to the point where you feel like you can't overcome it.

And I think our team feels that positive vibe and it's been tremendous. It's been like that all year. So I credit the guys on the field but also credit the guys in the dugout and the coaches as well.

Q. What is tomorrow going to be like? It is the ultimate winner-take-all to advance to the championship series. This is kind of what everybody in college baseball, the position everybody wants to be in. How do you think your team will handle it?

COACH PIERCE: Well, I think they held back their two best arms. I think we'll see two guys tomorrow, period. I believe that our team is playing at a very high level, not only with confidence, but with their skill set right now. And I don't think we're going to give in at all. I think the game gets back to even now. And we're going to go out there and compete like we do and see what happens.