Confident Troy baseball team suddenly finds itself 2 wins from Omaha

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The journey was anything but linear, yet the Troy baseball team has arrived exactly where head coach Skylar Meade envisioned at the start of June. After an intense push through the Gainesville Regional, the Trojans (36-30) are now set to host Little Rock (39-26) in a best-of-three NCAA Super Regional at Riddle-Pace Field starting this Friday. The reward for the series winner? A ticket to the College World Series in Omaha.

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Building a Championship Mindset

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While many were surprised by Troy’s performance in Florida last weekend, Meade insists the success was calculated. \"There wasn’t a fluke to this,\" Meade said on Monday. \"I speak what I really believe, and I know sometimes people maybe are taken aback by that, but I told you that on Thursday. I’m not saying it after the fact. I believe.\"

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Following a 2025 campaign that saw the Trojans snubbed from the NCAA tournament despite a 39-win season and a Top 50 RPI, Meade intentionally constructed one of the most grueling schedules in the country. Ranked No. 8 in national strength of schedule and No. 2 in non-conference strength, Troy faced off against major programs including Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Maryland, and East Carolina.

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Despite holding a 32-29 record following the Sun Belt tournament, that rigorous path secured an at-large bid. The team maintained resilience throughout the year, never suffering a series sweep and recording 19 wins over Top 100 RPI opponents.

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Eyes on the Prize

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For Meade, the goal isn't simply participation. \"Who would be crazy enough to schedule our schedule to do the things we do to put yourself out there if we don’t think that we can win a national championship?\" he stated. \"We do everything strategically to give ourselves at Troy University an opportunity to win a national championship.\"

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That preparation paid off in Gainesville. After dropping their opening game to Miami, the Trojans reeled off five consecutive wins. The run was capped by a dominant sweep of the No. 8 national seed, Florida, with the Trojans outscoring the Gators 16-11 and 10-2 on their home field. Throughout the regional, the team tallied 55 runs and 12 home runs, powered by standouts like Jimmy Janicki, Aaron Piasecki, and Blake Cavill, along with breakout performances from Jabe Boroff and Houston Markham.

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Boroff, who earned Regional MVP honors after going 10-for-20 with four home runs and 12 RBIs, called the experience \"surreal.\" He added, \"I just give all the glory to God... you just have to believe.\""

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The Matchup Ahead

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Little Rock arrives in Troy following a remarkable showing at the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional. The fellow Sun Belt squad upset top-seeded Southern Miss 7-4 before sweeping Jacksonville State to earn their first-ever Super Regional appearance. While Little Rock enters on an eight-game win streak, Troy enters the series as a heavy favorite.

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Meade is eager to leverage the home-field advantage. Drawing on his own experience as a player at Louisville, he noted the thrill of finding out he would host a Super Regional after a surprise run. Now, he is focused on ensuring his squad remains locked in.

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NCAA Troy Super Regional Schedule

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All times are in Central (CT):

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• Game 1: 5 p.m. (ESPNU)
• Game 2: 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
• Game 3: (If necessary) Time and TV TBD

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