Quick Read
- Sam Cozart recorded his 9th save of the season to clinch the Austin Super Regional.
- Texas qualified for its 39th College World Series appearance.
- The Longhorns will face Georgia in the opening round of the CWS.
- Cozart’s pitching arsenal features a 96-mph fastball and a sharp slider.
A High-Stakes Performance
Texas Longhorns freshman closer Sam Cozart cemented his role as a pivotal asset for the program this past Sunday, delivering a dominant performance to secure a 6-5 victory over the Oregon Ducks. With the win, Texas clinched the Austin Super Regional and officially punched their ticket to the College World Series (CWS) in Omaha for the 39th time in program history.
Entering the game in the eighth inning, Cozart faced six batters and retired them all, striking out four. His final out—a 96-mph fastball that caught Ryan Cooney looking—effectively ended Oregon’s comeback hopes and earned Cozart his ninth save of the season. Oregon head coach Mark Wasikowski praised the composure of the freshman, noting, “The 96-mph fastball with a really nasty slider… those are major-league arms.”
Strategic Impact and Outlook
Cozart’s emergence as a reliable late-inning arm has been central to Texas’ postseason success. Under head coach Jim Schlossnagle, the Longhorns (45-13) are now set to face SEC champion Georgia in the opening round of the CWS. The stakes remain high as Texas pursues its seventh national title, a milestone that has eluded the program since 2005.
While the offense—led by back-to-back home runs from Aiden Robbins and Carson Tinney—provided the necessary cushion, it was the bullpen’s ability to hold Oregon to a single baserunner over the final 3 1/3 innings that defined the outcome. Cozart’s ability to remain unfazed in high-leverage environments, as evidenced by his post-game comment that he felt “no nerves at all,” provides a significant psychological edge for the Longhorns as they transition to the pressure-cooker environment of Omaha.