After a shaky regional outing, Sam Cozart returned to form and slammed the door on Oregon to send Texas to the College World Series.
Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle stands in the dugout ahead of the Lone Star Showdown. | Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Usually, when the Texas Longhorns take a late lead in a pivotal game, Texas fans can expect a giant, grizzly 6-foot-6 freshman to emerge from the bullpen to instill fear upon the opposing team and slam the door shut.
The freshman entered Sunday with a sub-2.00 ERA and had been one of the most dominant relievers in college baseball all season. Texas had yet to lose a game in which he appeared.carrying a rare blemish. Last weekend, Cozart entered in relief against UC Santa Barbara as the Longhorns held a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth.
But the 2026 Stopper of the Year nominee struggled, allowing five hits and an earned run before Luke Harrison was called upon to record the final out. On Sunday, however, the freshman stopper looked every bit like his imposing self and left little in doubt for the Longhorns. After two straight hitless innings, Cozart helped Texas freshman pitcher Sam Cozart eyes the plate in a midweek game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Texas.
| Texas AthleticsTexas jumped to an early 4-0 lead thanks to back-to-back first-inning home runs from Aiden Robbins and Carson Tinney, followed by a bases-loaded walk and an RBI single in the second. It marked the second straight game Texas led 4-0 after two innings. But unlike Game 1, Oregon was not to be denied. The Ducks steadily chipped away as Ruger Riojas battled through 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs while throwing a season-high 111 pitches.
By the seventh inning, Oregon had taken its first lead of the super regional. Brody Walls, Ethan Walker and Thomas Burns combined to collect four outs after Riojas exited. The trio wasn't perfect, allowing an unearned run on a Brayden Jaksa sacrifice ground out that briefly put Texas behind, but it was enough of a bridge to get Cozart the ball.
"Those guys can pitch in the major leagues tonight," Oregon head coach Mark Wasikowski said. "You're going to need to beat a lot of big leaguers in order to beat Texas. " Moments earlier, Texas had reclaimed the lead at the top of the eighth thanks to Adrian Rodriguez's two-run double down the left-field line.
Then assuredly to Oregon's demise, Cozart stepped onto the mound.
"We have supreme confidence in him, that's why he was out there with Omaha on the line," head coach Jim Schlossnagle said. After Cozart's perfect eighth and ninth innings, Texas secured a 6-5 victory and punched its ticket to Omaha for the first time since 2022.
"For me, it was just an incredible amount of excitement," Cozart said. "To be able to have another opportunity to go play baseball on the biggest stage and represent Texas at the highest level. " Even after a relatively off weekend for the freshman, Cozart returned with an exceptional performance to erase any sting from last year's early exit. Avery Barstad is a staff writer for the Texas Longhorns in SI.
She attends the University of Texas at Austin, where she is a journalism major and a sports analytics and business minor. She also covers the women’s swim and dive team for The Daily Texan. Barstad is from Dallas and loves to attend Dallas Stars and Cowboys games while visiting home. You can find her on X @AveryBarst86215.
Please follow us on Google to support us United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Texas' Starting Pitchers and Lineup for Super Regional Game Two Against OregonFrom the first inning of the Austin Super Regional opener, the No. 6 Texas Longhorns looked the part of a College World Series contender. They jumped out to an
Read more »
Oregon Baseball vs. Texas: Starting Pitchers, How to Watch Elimination GameThe Oregon Ducks baseball team is facing elimination vs. the Texas Longhorns in the Austin Super Regional. Will the Ducks' shot at the College World Series end
Read more »
The Key Moment in Texas Baseball’s Win vs. Oregon in CBB Super RegionalThe Texas Longhorns defeated Oregon in Game 1 of the Austin Super Regional to move one win away from a College World Series berth.
Read more »
Texas Baseball Live Score for College Baseball Super Regional Game Two vs OregonThe No. 6 Texas Longhorns (44—13) now find themselves only one win away from returning to Omaha and the College World Series. Standing in their way is a battle
Read more »