04 Jun 2025 Trojans’ magical postseason run ends in Baton Rouge Regional final
BATON ROUGE, LA. — The longest postseason run in Trojan baseball history ended Monday night at Alex Box Stadium. But, not before Little Rock pushed LSU to the limit in a 10-6 loss in the Baton Rouge Regional Final.
Little Rock jumped to a 5-1 lead early and after trailing 7-5 cut the margin to 7-6 in the eighth inning before the Tigers (46-15) added three insurance runs in the ninth inning.
“Heck of a run. It was a heck of a run,” Little Rock head coach Chris Curry said. “I’m very grateful. Just told the team in the locker room that every baseball game at some point, they take the spikes from you and your season is over. And you never want that to happen, but if it’s going to happen, you want it to happen in June, and you want to have it happen on a postseason field. And we accomplished that.
“It hurts right now because we don’t like to lose and we’re competitors. But these men changed Little Rock baseball forever. I’m thankful for the opportunity to coach them. And I’m proud, proud of my guys.”
Angel Cano was named the Baton Rouge Regional Most Outstanding Player and was on the Baton Rouge Regional All-Tournament Team at first base. Ty Rhoades earned a spot at third base and Zach Henry in the outfield.
“It means a lot,” Cano said. “Like Coach said just the day before yesterday, I have gone through a lot. So, it truly means a lot to me. It just means a lot.”
Tailing 1-0 in the second inning, Little Rock piled up five runs in the bottom half of the frame. Cano continued his torrid ways with an RBI single. Alex Sequine drove in two runs with a single and Zach Henry drove home a run with a fielder’s choice. Ryan Geck capped the scoring with a bloop RBI-single.
Then, Little Rock (27-34) was held scoreless the next six innings by freshman reliever Casan Evans, who picked up the win. He struck out 12 and scattered four hits.
LSU tied the game in the fourth inning and took the lead, 6-5, in the seventh.
The Tigers led 7-5 after scoring a lone run in the eighth, but Little Rock cut into it when Seguine singled up the middle in the bottom half of the frame, notching his third RBI of the game.
The Trojans used four pitchers and started reliever Blake Van Cleve. Ace starter Jackson Wells came out of the bullpen and pitched 3.1 innings, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits.
The program captured the sports world’s attention by upsetting perennial power LSU Sunday night and forcing a deciding game. Little Rock only made the Regional by winning five games in four days at the OVC Tournament. An emotional Curry couldn’t praise his team enough in the press conference following the game.
“Little Rock baseball took a step forward this year, and the expectation and standard is to be playing in June,” Curry said. “You have to win a Regional to get it. Credit goes to LSU, what a fine job they did on the mound with the three arms.”
