NC State catcher Jacob Cozart rides hot streak as Pack prepares for ACC ‘gauntlet’
Two weeks ago, it looked like NC State junior catcher Jacob Cozart was due for a breakout stretch. He opened ACC play with a .277 batting average alongside just three doubles, nine RBI and a .323 slugging percentage in the first 18 league contests.
The preseason All-American had a dip in his power, but it seemed like he was on the verge of breaking out of it.
And now he has.
Cozart has smashed six home runs in the last seven games — doubling his season total — while hitting .407 with 13 runs scored and 14 RBI in that stretch. The power-hitting catcher has returned to form and it might be at the perfect time for the No. 20 Wolfpack with three ACC weekends left before the calendar flips into the postseason.
“[I’m] just playing for the team,” Cozart said. “Going down the stretch, we’re going through a gauntlet of a schedule. … I’m just doing what I can to help these guys get to the next level, keep on winning and get us to the postseason.”
The Wolfpack has a road trip to No. 7 Florida State this weekend before visiting No. 11 Virginia and closing the league slate at home with No. 13 Wake Forest. It is not an easy task for any team, but the Wolfpack is in the hunt to host an NCAA regional at this point in the year at No. 20 in Monday’s RPI rankings.
Everyone on the roster is well aware of what a couple more ACC series wins would do for NC State, which already holds weekend victories over No. 4 Clemson, No. 10 Duke and No. 12 North Carolina. It was just a matter of time before its slugger returned to form — a year ago he hit .290 with eight doubles, seven home runs and 25 RBI against ACC competition.
“I know he’s had it in him, so it’s just focusing and getting the right pitches,” NC State graduate third baseman Alec Makarewicz said of Cozart. “He’s seeing the ball well, so it’s good to see.”
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Though Cozart has hit the ball well recently, he said he did not let his early ACC schedule struggles affect him at the plate. He was not hitting as well as he had the potential to, but as one of the top defensive catchers in college baseball, he used that part of his game to reset himself.
“Just keep a good mindset,” Cozart said. “Keep the same preparation, day in and day out. I’m in a job where I can put my at-bats aside and focus on getting our pitchers locked in where they need to be. That keeps it in check, too, to keep my emotions balanced. I don’t really focus on it. I just do the same thing every day and do what I can to help this team.”
Now, Cozart’s game is clicking hand-in-hand with his glove and his bat. He joined graduate first baseman Garrett Pennington (10) and Makarewicz (17) has the only three hitters with double-digit homers. That trio has also combined to account for 138 RBI this spring as well.
As NC State’s power hitters are rolling into form, the Wolfpack is looking to figure out its defense after sophomore outfielder Josh Hogue suffered a fractured leg Saturday night and is expected to miss four months after surgery. The Pack is hopeful that graduate outfielder Noah Soles is nearing a return, too, and NC State coach Elliott Avent had his mindset on cleaning up the smaller details this week.
“We gotta figure some things out,” Avent said. “We put Luke Nixon in right field [Sunday] and [Matt] Heavner at second. We still have to figure some stuff out. Guys have to really refocus and we have to get better in some areas.”
