Right-handed pitcher Sam Cozart reacts after striking out a batter during Texas’ game against Ole Miss in Austin, Texas on Sunday, March 15, 2026
The No. 2 Texas Longhorns defeated the Ole Miss Rebels 8-2 on Sunday to take the weekend’s series.
Sophomore starting pitcher Dylan Volantis continued his transition from the bullpen to the rotation with his first in-conference start. He threw a career-high 102 pitches and 11 strikeouts and, despite struggling for a third-straight fifth inning, only allowed one run.
Volantis found himself in a position with men on-base and zero outs in both the second and third inning, and managed to avoid scores both times.
“I love those stressful situations,” Volantis said. “(I) just attacked them, made them get themselves out, and tried not to give them free bags.”
He was succeeded by freshman reliever Sam Cozart.
Typically the midweek-game starter, head coach Jim Schlossnagle felt Cozart earned the opportunity to pitch this weekend. Cozart made the most of the chance, throwing three innings without an earned run to notch his first career save.
Cozart is part of a youth movement in Texas’ bullpen that has continued to prove more and more every game.
“(Cozart) is so mature. I mean he literally looks mature, but he is also mentally mature,” junior catcher Carson Tinney said. “He’s a 19-year-old kid who acts like he’s 30 years old.”
Just like Saturday, the Longhorns offense once again peppered the Rebels with singles. Today, however, they complimented them with two home runs courtesy of Tinney and junior first baseman Casey Borba.
It was Borba’s fourth home run of the week after coming into last Tuesday’s game with just three on the year.
Tinney’s home run was the cherry on top of arguably his best game of the year. The Notre Dame transfer got three hits and brought three runners home, setting season-highs for both categories.
Tinney, who was the jewel of Texas’ portal class this offseason, has gotten off to a relatively slow start this season. However, he seems to be turning a corner and returning to form.
“There’s a ton of failure in the game, there’s ups and downs,” Tinney said. “(I just) do what I can to do my job (and) help the team win.”
The Longhorns also got help from the corner outfield duo of senior Jayden Duplantier and freshman Anthony Pack Jr., who combined to go 3-7 at the plate.
The win brought Texas’ run differential on the series to 27-13 as the Longhorns dominated the Rebels after taking their first loss of the season on Friday.
That number would be even more stark, 26-8, if the ninth inning of Friday’s game were not included.
“(I’m) really proud of our team,” Schlossnagle said. “We played roughly 27 innings and had one bad inning, for the most part, on the whole weekend.”
Texas will look to continue its revived win streak as it takes on Tarleton State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.