‘I believed that we could get to Omaha’: Troy savoring first trip to College World Series

When the NCAA tournament bracket was revealed two weeks ago, Troy University found itself among the final four teams added to the 64-team field alongside Liberty, Kentucky, and Texas State. While outsiders labeled them the last ones in, head coach Skylar Meade isn't buying the narrative.

A Season of Resilience

The Trojans faced a precarious position in early May. Following back-to-back home losses to Appalachian State, the team sat at 22-25, a stark contrast to the squad that secured 39 wins the previous year. However, the turnaround has been nothing short of historic. Now 38-30, Troy is the only team in the country with 30 losses currently competing in the College World Series.

Senior pitcher Tommy Egan, whose dominant five-hit performance on Saturday solidified the team's trip to Omaha, believes the foundation for this run was set long ago. I believed that we could get to Omaha, Egan said. He credits the culture established by Meade, noting that even through the mid-season struggles, the coaching staff remained focused on the goals ahead.

Climbing the Ranks

Troy’s resurgence began with a late-season push, winning seven of their final nine regular-season games. The path was far from easy, marked by a grueling Sun Belt Conference Tournament stretch where the team bounced back from a heartbreaking walk-off loss to Southern Miss. Meade emphasized that the team’s mental toughness during that stretch, which included an 11-10 elimination victory over South Alabama, was the catalyst for their postseason success.

That momentum carried into the NCAA tournament, where the Trojans stunned the No. 8 national seed Florida Gators in Gainesville. For Meade, the success is a validation of the program's long-term vision. We have elite players, elite arms. Our culture wins, Meade stated. It’s a long, hard road and things don’t happen at the pace you want. But if you do stay the course, then you’ll eventually get rewarded.

The Road to Omaha

The roster has thrived on balanced production. Sophomore catcher Jimmy Janicki, the Sun Belt Player of the Year, anchors the lineup, while pitchers Benjamin Stubbs and Zach Crotchfelt have provided stability on the mound. The emergence of Jabe Boroff, who has been a standout since moving into the starting lineup in May, has provided a significant spark, batting .386 with seven home runs over his last 12 games.

For Meade, a former Louisville pitcher who experienced the College World Series as a player, this trip is deeply personal. I said I was never going back unless as a coach, he shared. There was a moment during our rally in the ninth inning when I looked at my arms and could see the goosebumps. It’s going to be something.

The Trojans are set to face West Virginia in the opening round this Friday. While they remain an underdog in the national conversation, Meade and his team are embracing their status as one of the final eight programs standing. Step four is the hardest with the eight best teams in the country, Meade said. However, there’s eight left and the Trojans are one of them.