OMAHA – As good as Texas has been this season, as well as the season has gone for the Longhorns – 49 wins, a Big 12 title and a run to the College World Series – they have had to work hard for everything they have gotten.
But through it all, Texas has kept fighting.
In the end, Texas ground out a 6-2 victory to beat Virginia and advance to the bracket final against Mississippi State.
After losing a series to Texas Tech at the start of May that knocked it out of first place in the Big 12, it came back to beat Texas Christian and West Virginia to win the title.
“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,” Pierce said.
After the home run, Texas kept Virginia in check.
DH Ivan Melendez gave them the lead with an RBI single in the eighth and first baseman Zach Zubia delivered the insurance runs with a two-out, three-run double in the ninth inning.
Mississippi State has twice beaten Texas this season – once on Opening Day in Arlington and again on Sunday in Omaha.
It wasn’t easy for Texas on Thursday against Virginia and the level of difficult will only go up this weekend in the bracket final.
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