Freshman right‑hander Sam Cozart delivered a clutch performance on Tuesday night, striking out Oregon’s Ryan Cooney in a 6‑5 thriller that propelled the Texas Longhorns into the next round of the College World Series.
A family legacy in the making
The victory marks the fourth time in the past decade that Texas has advanced to the series, underscoring the program’s resurgence under coach Mark Wasikowski.
Cozart, who finished the season with a 1.65 earned run average and 71 strikeouts, has quickly become a cornerstone of the Longhorns’ rotation, drawing praise from teammates and analysts alike.
The young pitcher’s older brother, Jacob Cozart, previously tasted the College World Series stage, and Sam now eyes a national title as a means to surpass his sibling’s achievement.
Next up, Texas will meet Georgia in a showdown that could rewrite the narrative of a family’s baseball lineage, with the championship on the horizon.
The accolade of National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year further cements Cozart’s rapid ascent, a feat highlighted in coverage by ESPN and supported by betting platforms such as DraftKings.
Coach Augie and senior pitcher Luke Harrison are among the staff guiding the squad, while Adrian Rodriguez and Michelle Cozart have been vocal supporters from the stands.
The upcoming games will be staged in Omaha, Nebraska, a venue that has hosted the series for decades, adding another layer of tradition to the contest.
Fans across the United States, from Austin to the heartland, are tuning in, eager to witness whether the Cozart brothers can etch their names into college baseball lore.