Little Rock baseball is set for an exciting October as the Trojans take on two powerhouse SEC programs in a pair of high-profile road exhibitions. Head coach Chris Curry’s squad will travel to Oxford to battle Ole Miss on Saturday, October 4, before heading north to Fayetteville for a Friday night matchup against Arkansas on October 10.
First pitch in Oxford is slated for 1 p.m., while the clash with the Razorbacks will begin at 6 p.m. inside Baum-Walker Stadium. Fans attending the Arkansas exhibition can gain admission for free by donating a canned good at the gate.
For Coach Curry, these contests represent much more than just fall scrimmages. They’re an opportunity for his program to showcase itself against elite competition while preparing for another challenging season.
“I think it’s a good feather in the cap of the program where you have Ole Miss and Arkansas reaching out,” Curry said. “They don’t want to play someone that isn’t going to test them a little bit. What a perfect scenario for us to travel twice and be able to see those environments. It doesn’t get better both of them will be Top 15-20-type programs in February.”
The Trojans have some recent history with Arkansas, having first faced the Razorbacks in a fall exhibition at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock before beginning their regular-season series in 2019. Curry also brings a personal connection to the matchup, having previously worked as an assistant under Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn.
Curry emphasized that these in-state and regional contests build stronger ties across the baseball community.
“It’s always good for statewide competition,” he added. “Anytime you get all of these baseball people in the same building, it’s a win for us. It’s continuing to play the best competition we can find, especially in the fall.”
The momentum around the program is as high as it has ever been. Little Rock is fresh off a historic 2025 campaign, highlighted by winning the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament and advancing to the Baton Rouge Regional final. Their postseason run included a thrilling win over eventual national champion LSU and a statement victory against nationally ranked Dallas Baptist. Earlier in the year, they also earned a road triumph at Ole Miss, proving they could compete with some of the nation’s best.
Heading into the fall, the Trojans will lean on a mix of seasoned veterans and fresh faces. Key returners include Angel Cano, who earned Baton Rouge Regional Most Outstanding Player honors, along with standouts Cooper Chaplain, Ty Rhoades, Ryan Geck, and Jack Cline. They will be joined by 23 new additions to the roster, making this fall schedule a crucial step in building chemistry and gaining experience.
Curry believes that playing in hostile, high-energy environments will prepare his team for what lies ahead.
“Now our guys see these Regional-type venues. That helps a ton,” Curry said. “It will be a fun night [at Arkansas]. It will be a great crowd, and with 23 new faces, you can’t simulate that in a scrimmage.”
As October approaches, Trojan fans can look forward to two big tests that promise valuable lessons and competitive fire. Facing Ole Miss and Arkansas not only raises the program’s profile but also reinforces Little Rock’s commitment to measuring itself against the very best in college baseball.