Troy headed to College World Series after sweeping Super Regional

History has been made in Troy. Just one week after securing a regional title and punching their first ticket to an NCAA Super Regional, the Trojans have officially swept Little Rock to earn their first-ever trip to the College World Series as a Division I program.

Omaha Bound

In front of a record-breaking crowd of 7,033 at Riddle-Pace Field, Troy (38-30) cemented their spot in Omaha with a 7-2 victory over Little Rock on Saturday. The Trojans, who previously claimed back-to-back Division II national titles in 1986 and 1987, have finally broken through the regional ceiling since transitioning to the Division I level.

Head coach Skylar Meade emphasized that the team’s success comes from having a perfect blend of talent and grit. "We have good kids and the right level of edge," Meade said. "There’s only one team happy at the end of this thing in late June and everything we’ve done in our program is with the mindset of being that last team. There’s eight teams left and the Trojans are one of them."

Dominant Pitching and Defense

After a powerful 12-2 offensive explosion in Friday's opener, the Trojans leaned on a masterclass of pitching and defense to close the series. Starter Tommy Egan delivered a stellar performance, tying his career high with 7.1 innings of work. Egan struck out eight and walked just two, while his defense provided critical support with three double plays in the final four frames.

Highlight-reel efforts, including a gutsy running catch against the fence by right fielder Houston Markham and a brilliant stop from third baseman Josh Pyne, kept Little Rock at bay. Meade praised the pitching staff's composure throughout the series, noting, "If you walk only two guys in two games and give up two runs in each game, you’re going to win a lot of games."

Offensive Surge

Troy’s bats provided early run support on Saturday, with Drew Nelson’s two-run double in the first setting the tone. Aaron Piesecki and Steven Meier chipped in with RBI contributions, while Blake Cavill tacked on a two-run single in the ninth to seal the win. Noah Thigpen took over to secure the final five outs and notch his third save of the season.

The Trojans, who fought their way through four straight elimination games in the Gainesville Regional to reach this point, are only the third Sun Belt Conference team to reach the College World Series, joining Louisiana (2000) and Coastal Carolina (2025). Troy is set to face West Virginia in the opening round next week in Omaha.

Little Rock coach Chris Curry, whose team entered the series on an eight-game winning streak, expressed pride in his squad despite the loss. "I couldn’t be more proud of these guys and the heights they took this program," Curry said. "Little Rock baseball is here to stay."