Mississippi State is off to a great start in its opening-round game against Texas.

Bulldogs starting pitcher struck out eight Longhorns in his first three innings. In the top of the fourth, the MSU bats provided some support.

Bednar returned to the mound in the bottom of the fourth with a 2-0 lead. Mississippi State scored its first run on an RBI sac fly from Scotty Dubrule, plating Kamren James. Brad Cumbest tripled down the right-field line to bring in the second run.

In the bottom of the fourth, Texas managed to get a baserunner but Bednar kept the Longhorns from scoring, picking up strikeouts Nos. 9 and 10 in another scoreless inning to keep it 2-0.

Texas is the No. 2 national seed, the highest-ranked team remaining in the NCAA Tournament field. Mississippi State is the No. 7 seed. The game is airing on ESPN2, entering the bottom of the fifth inning and Bednar has picked up a school-record 11th K in a College World Series game.