2021 College World Series: Ivan Melendez's late-game heroics give Texas win over Mississippi State

(Texas Athletics)

Ivan Melendez added to the drama.

With rain falling from the sky and storms approaching, the Texas designated hitter belted a three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to give Texas an 8-5 lead at the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park.

Following the home run, there was a walk, a pitching change and two and one-half hour weather delay. 

Finally around 1:30 a.m., Texas recorded the final out to force Saturday’s winner-take-all game and cap one of the most dramatic days at the CWS.

Earlier, Vanderbilt defeated North Carolina State 3-1 as the Wolfpack played with only a 13-man roster due to Covid issues.

Melendez finished with two hits and four RBIs in the win. 

Mississippi State almost made its second straight late-inning comeback with three runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game at 5-5.

Second baseman Scotty Dubrule drew a bases-loaded walk and left-fielder Brad Cumbest delivered a two-run single to tie the game. 

Texas took a 5-2 lead with a run in the fifth and two more in the seventh.

Texas broke the tie on Mike Antico’s RBI single in the fifth inning to give the Longhorns a 3-2 lead.

Antico was in the middle of a rally in the seventh as Texas stretched the lead to 5-2 against the MSU bullpen.

He drove in a run with an RBI single off lefty Cam Tullar. Melendez added an RBI single off Patrick.

Antico finished with two hits and two RBIs.

After Texas took a 1-0 lead on Zubia’s two-our home run in the top of the first inning, MSU scored twice in he bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead. 

Third baseman Kamren James and catcher Logan Tanner had RBI singles in he first inning to give the Bulldogs the lead. Tanner was 0-for-7 with five strikeouts in his first two CWS games.

Texas tied the game at 2-2 on Faltine’s sac fly in the second inning.