LSU baseball has long been known for its offensive firepower, but this year, it’s two bullpen arms stealing the spotlight. Freshman Casan Evans and junior Zac Cowan have emerged as one of the most dominant relief duos in college baseball – and likely the best one-two punch in the country.
“Outside of my wife Maureen Johnson, probably two of the most important people in my life,” head coach Jay Johnson said of Zac Cowan and Casan Evans following LSU’s series clinching victory against Tennessee this past Sunday.
After LSU’s Saturday night loss to the Volunteers, there were many questions surrounding who Jay Johnson was going to start in the Tiger’s Game 3. Lo and behold, Casan Evans would earn the start, the first of his career.
Following a two run first inning, Evans tallied five scoreless frames before Zac Cowan entered the game in the seventh inning.
Cowan continued the shutout and Tennessee would not plate another run, losing 12-2 in the eighth inning, after a Luis Hernandez home run walked it off in a mercy rule for LSU.
Their numbers don’t just stand out in Baton Rouge, they’re turning heads nationally. Cowan boasts a 1.21 ERA, while Evans wields a whopping 0.67. Their elite strikeout rates and total composure has made them an impossibility for opposing teams.
“Casan and Zac, I wouldn’t trade them for anybody. They’re two of the best relievers in the country,” Johnson said.
What sets the duo apart is how they complement each other: Evans is a hard-throwing freshman phenom with poise beyond his years; Cowan is the experienced, surgical transfer who thrives in tight situations and has a deadly breaking ball.
As LSU gears up for the postseason, its late-inning identity is defined by the steady arms of No. 41 and No. 43.
Evans arrived at LSU as a highly touted recruit, but few expected him to become the Tigers’ go-to high-leverage reliever so quickly. Through his first 27 innings, the Houston native has struck out 41 batters and walked only nine. He’s recorded six saves, the most on the team, and has yet to allow a home run.
Evans was thrust into pressure moments early, logging save opportunities in tight SEC games and non-conference matchups alike.
His velocity is impressive, routinely touching 95 mph, but it’s really his secondary stuff that’s gotten him noticed. A wipeout slider and a changeup with late fade makes him deadly against both lefties and righties – something that Jay Johnson loves from a matchup perspective.
Earlier this month, Evans was named to the National Pitcher of the Year watch list by the College Baseball Foundation, an honor few relievers, let alone freshmen, ever receive.
While Evans has emerged as the electric closer, Zac Cowan has become LSU’s bridge, and sometimes its fireman. A transfer from Wofford, Cowan brought experience and control to LSU’s bullpen. He’s been nothing short of dominant with 46 strikeouts and just six walks in 34.1 innings. His WHIP of 0.78 puts him second in the country.
Cowan isn’t overpowering in the traditional sense. His fastball speed sits around 91 to 92 mph – but his ability to locate and change speeds has made him one of the most difficult pitchers to square up in the SEC.
“I needed to take the next step in development,” Cowan said. “I felt like I had given everything at Wofford. And I felt like in order for me to take that next step, I needed to come to a place like this.”
And step up he has. Cowan has been a lifesaver when the depths of LSU’s bullpen weren’t enough. He’s gone more than two innings on five occasions and even started a midweek game in March, throwing five scoreless frames.
Together, Evans and Cowan have given LSU something few teams in the country possess: two elite, dependable bullpen arms who can help slam the door on a close game, or make the save and maintain the lead.
With the absence of captain Gavin Guidry this season, Evans and Cowan’s contributions have taken on even more weight. Johnson continuously emphasizes the importance of the strength of his bullpen, noting that while many teams struggle to find reliable relievers, LSU boasts multiple pitchers capable of handling extended innings when needed.
As LSU climbs back to No. 2 and eyes a deep postseason run, the presence of Evans and Cowan looms large. Both will be critical pieces as the Tigers navigate the SEC Tournament, regionals, and, if all goes according to plan – the College Baseball World Series.
There may be more famous closers in the country, and maybe more overpowering arms. But ask anyone who’s watched LSU play this season, and they’ll tell you the same thing: If you see either one of these guys in the bullpen, just know the game is about to change.
