The 2021 Little Rock Trojans baseball team represented the University of Arkansas at Little Rock during the 2021 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Trojans played their home games at Gary Hogan Field and were led by seventh-year head coach Chris Curry. They were members of the Sun Belt Conference.
Preseason[]
Signing Day Recruits[]
[2]
Player
|
Hometown
|
Previous Team
|
Pitchers
|
Preston Davis
|
Texarkana, Texas
|
Redwater HS
|
Ezra Gustafson
|
Midwest City, Oklahoma
|
Carl Albert HS
|
Asher Hastings
|
Little Rock, Arkansas
|
Joe T. Robinson HS
|
Tristan Hawkins
|
Benton, Arkansas
|
Benton HS
|
Michael Quevedo
|
Deltona, Florida
|
TNXL Academy
|
Hitters
|
Jaxson Anders
|
Greenbrier, Arkansas
|
Greenbrier HS
|
Traejon Blake
|
England, Arkansas
|
England HS
|
Aidan Garrett
|
Benton, Arkansas
|
Benton HS
|
Jarkevious Johnson
|
Cleveland, Mississippi
|
Cleveland Central HS
|
Graydon Martin
|
Texarkana, Arkansas
|
Arkansas HS
|
Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll[]
The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 15, 2021 and the Trojans were picked to finish fourth in the West Division.[3]
Coaches poll (West)
|
Predicted finish
|
Team
|
Votes (1st place)
|
1 |
Texas State |
65 (6)
|
2 |
UT Arlington |
58 (4)
|
3 |
Louisiana |
52 (2)
|
4 |
Little Rock |
33
|
5 |
Louisiana–Monroe |
27
|
6 |
Arkansas State |
13
|
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team & Honors[]
- Aaron Funk (LR, Pitcher)
- Jordan Jackson (GASO, Pitcher)
- Conor Angel (LA, Pitcher)
- Wyatt Divis (UTA, Pitcher)
- Lance Johnson (TROY, Pitcher)
- Caleb Bartolero (TROY, Catcher)
- William Sullivan (TROY, 1st Base)
- Luke Drumheller (APP, 2nd Base)
- Drew Frederic (TROY, Shortstop)
- Cooper Weiss (CCU, 3rd Base)
- Ethan Wilson (USA, Outfielder)
- Parker Chavers (CCU, Outfielder)
- Rigsby Mosley (TROY, Outfielder)
- Eilan Merejo (GSU, Designated Hitter)
- Andrew Beesly (ULM, Utility)
Roster[]
2021 Little Rock Trojans roster
|
|
Pitchers
- 12 Reese Lansville - Sophomore
- 14 Eli Sievert - Senior
- 16 Jacob Weatherley - Freshman
- 17 Aaron Funk - Senior
- 18 Aaron Barkley - Senior
- 19 Calvin Hunt - Sophomore
- 25 Jack Decooman - Redshirt Junior
- 26 Cal Beardsley - Senior
- 27 Luke Wallner - Senior
- 29 Matthew Davis - Freshman
- 30 Hayden Arnold - Senior
- 31 Chance Vaught - Freshman
- 34 Dillon Delgadillo - Senior
- 35 Zane Neves - Sophomore
- 36 Austin Smith - Senior
- 37 Erik McKnight - Sophomore
- 39 Sawyer Smallwood - Junior
- 40 John Boushelle - Senior
- 44 Cole Evans - Senior
|
|
Catchers
- 10 Anthony Socci - Junior
- 23 Robert Diaz - Freshman
- 28 John Michael Russ - Senior
- 32 Jake Wright - Sophomore
Infielders
- 1 Christian Bernabe - Sophomore
- 2 Eldrige Figeuroa - Senior
- 4 Chris Prentiss - Senior
- 5 Miguel Soto - Junior
- 6 Nathan Lyons - Junior
- 9 Will Spears - Sophomore
- 21 Jorden Hussein - Senior
- 24 Canyon McWilliams - Senior
- 33 Kobe Barnum - Senior
Outfielders
- 7 Noah Dickerson - Redshirt Sophomore
- 8 Tim Dixon - Senior
- 13 Tyler Williams - Sophomore
- 20 Kenny Rodriguez - Senior
- 22 Marlon Lindsey - Junior
|
Coaching staff[]
2021 Little Rock Trojans coaching staff
|
- Chris Curry – Head Coach – 7th year
- Noah Sanders – Assistant Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator – 4th year
- R. D. Spiehs – Assistant Head Coach – 3rd year
- Eric Hansen – Director of Operations/Player Development – 1st year
- Jacob Caples – Volunteer Assistant Coach
|
Schedule and results[]
Legend
|
|
Little Rock win
|
|
Little Rock loss
|
|
Postponement/Cancelation/Suspensions
|
Bold |
Little Rock team member
|
2021 Little Rock Trojans Baseball Game Log
|
Regular Season (21-28)
|
February (2-4)
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Rank
|
Site/Stadium
|
Score
|
Win
|
Loss
|
Save
|
TV
|
Attendance
|
Overall Record
|
SBC Record
|
Feb. 21 |
at Oral Roberts |
|
J. L. Johnson Stadium • Tulsa, OK |
W 4-3 |
Arnold (1-0) |
Rogen (0-1) |
None |
|
882 |
1-0 |
|
Feb. 22 |
at Oral Roberts |
|
J. L. Johnson Stadium • Tulsa, OK |
L 3-7 |
Coffey (1-0) |
DeCooman (0-1) |
None |
|
519 |
1-1 |
|
Feb. 23 |
at No. 20 Oklahoma State |
|
O'Brate Stadium • Stillwater, OK |
Cancelled
|
Feb. 24 |
at No. 20 Oklahoma State |
|
O'Brate Stadium • Stillwater, OK |
L 2-7 |
Cheney (1-0) |
McKnight (0-1) |
None |
|
2,635 |
1-2 |
|
Feb. 26 |
Eastern Illinois |
|
Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR |
L 6-12 |
Hampton (2-0) |
Funk (0-1) |
Doherty (1) |
|
75 |
1-3 |
|
Feb. 26 |
Eastern Illinois |
|
Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR |
L 1-17 (7 inns) |
Nicholson (1-0) |
Arnold (1-1) |
None |
|
240 |
1-4 |
|
Feb. 27 |
Eastern Illinois |
|
Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR |
W 6-5 |
Barkley (1-0) |
Stevenson (0-1) |
None |
|
185 |
2-4 |
|
|
March (9-4)
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Rank
|
Site/Stadium
|
Score
|
Win
|
Loss
|
Save
|
TV
|
Attendance
|
Overall Record
|
SBC Record
|
Mar. 3 |
Central Arkansas |
|
Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR |
W 5-3 |
Evans (1-0) |
Gregson (0-1) |
Barkley (1) |
|
294 |
3-4 |
|
Mar. 5 |
at North Alabama |
|
Mike D. Lane Field • Florence, AL |
L 4-6 |
Nichols (1-0) |
Hunt (0-1) |
None |
|
157 |
3-5 |
|
Mar. 6 |
at North Alabama |
|
Mike D. Lane Field • Florence, AL |
W 9-1 |
Barkley (2-0) |
Best (0-2) |
None |
|
210 |
4-5 |
|
Mar. 7 |
at North Alabama |
|
Mike D. Lane Field • Florence, AL |
W 10-3 |
Weatherley (1-0) |
Moore (0-2) |
None |
|
209 |
5-5 |
|
Mar. 12 |
at Auburn |
|
Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL |
L 0-7 |
Greenhill (2-0) |
Funk (0-2) |
None |
SECN+ |
850 |
5-6 |
|
Mar. 13 |
at Auburn |
|
Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL |
L 0-6 |
Barnett (2-0) |
Arnold (1-2) |
None |
SECN+ |
850 |
5-7 |
|
Mar. 14 |
at Auburn |
|
Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL |
W 12-6 |
Barkley (3-0) |
Bright (2-1) |
None |
SECN+ |
850 |
6-7 |
|
Mar. 19 |
Texas State |
|
Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR |
W 2-1 (11 inns) |
Barkley (1-0) |
Wofford (1-1) |
None |
ESPN+ |
212 |
7-7 |
1-0
|
Mar. 20 |
Texas State |
|
Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR |
W 12-0 |
Arnold (2-2) |
Bush (1-2) |
None |
ESPN+ |
238 |
8-7 |
2-0
|
Mar. 21 |
Texas State |
|
Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR |
W 7-4 |
Weatherley (2-0) |
Nicholas (0-1) |
Barkley (2) |
ESPN+ |
254 |
9-7 |
3-0
|
Mar. 23 |
at Arkansas–Pine Bluff |
|
Torii Hunter Baseball Complex • Pine Bluff, AR |
Game Cancelled
|
Mar. 26 |
at Southern Illinois |
|
Itchy Jones Stadium • Carbondale, IL |
L 7-10 |
McDaniel (1-0) |
Barkley (4-1) |
None |
|
|
9-8 |
|
Mar. 27 |
at Southern Illinois |
|
Itchy Jones Stadium • Carbondale, IL |
W 11-5 |
Arnold (3-2) |
Chapman (5-1) |
None |
|
|
10-8 |
|
Mar. 28 |
at Southern Illinois |
|
Itchy Jones Stadium • Carbondale, IL |
W 11-5 |
Barkley (5-1) |
McDaniel (1-1) |
None |
|
|
11-8 |
|
Mar. 30 |
Arkansas–Pine Bluff |
|
Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR |
W 7-2 |
Delgadillo (1-0) |
Wasson (0-1) |
None |
|
207 |
12-8 |
|
|
April (6-10)
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Rank
|
Site/Stadium
|
Score
|
Win
|
Loss
|
Save
|
TV
|
Attendance
|
Overall Record
|
SBC Record
|
Apr. 1 |
at Arkansas State |
|
Tomlinson Stadium–Kell Field • Jonesboro, AR |
L 2-10 |
Hudson (2-0) |
Funk (0-3) |
Jumpers (2) |
ESPN+ |
405 |
12-9 |
3-1
|
Apr. 2 |
at Arkansas State |
|
Tomlinson Stadium–Kell Field • Jonesboro, AR |
L 0-4 |
Jeans (1-0) |
Arnold (3-3) |
None |
ESPN+ |
422 |
12-10 |
3-2
|
Apr. 3 |
at Arkansas State |
|
Tomlinson Stadium–Kell Field • Jonesboro, AR |
L 6-10 |
Holt (1-2) |
DeCooman (0-2) |
None |
ESPN+ |
510 |
12-11 |
3-3
|
Apr. 6 |
at No. 2 Arkansas |
|
Baum–Walker Stadium • Fayetteville, AR |
L 2-7 |
Costeiu (4-0) |
Smallwood (0-1) |
None |
SECN+ |
4,225 |
12-12 |
|
Apr. 7 |
at No. 2 Arkansas |
|
Baum–Walker Stadium • Fayetteville, AR |
L 3-10 |
Bolden (1-0) |
Evans (1-1) |
None |
SECN+ |
4,002 |
12-13 |
|
Apr. 9 |
South Alabama |
|
Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR |
W 7-3 |
Arnold (4-3) |
Lee (2-2) |
Barkley (3) |
ESPN+ |
204 |
13-13 |
4-3
|
Apr. 10 |
South Alabama |
|
Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR |
W 4-2 |
Funk (1-3) |
Boswell (2-1) |
Barkley (4) |
ESPN+ |
432 |
14-13 |
5-3
|
Apr. 11 |
South Alabama |
|
Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR |
W 9-8 |
Hunt (1-1) |
Samaniego (1-1) |
None |
ESPN+ |
436 |
15-13 |
6-3
|
Apr. 13 |
at Central Arkansas |
|
Bear Stadium • Conway, AR |
L 2-4 |
Moyer (2-3) |
Beardsley (0-1) |
Cleveland (5) |
|
345 |
15-14 |
|
Apr. 17 |
at |
|
Warhawk Field • Monroe, LA |
W 2-0 |
Arnold (5-3) |
Barnes (1-3) |
Barkley (5) |
|
618 |
16-14 |
7-3
|
Apr. 18 |
at Louisiana–Monroe |
|
Warhawk Field • Monroe, LA |
L 3-5 |
Barlow (4-4) |
Funk (1-4) |
Lindsay (2) |
|
578 |
16-15 |
7-4
|
Apr. 19 |
at Louisiana–Monroe |
|
Warhawk Field • Monroe, LA |
L 4-5 (10 inns) |
Goleman (1-1) |
Barkley (5-2) |
None |
|
494 |
16-16 |
7-5
|
Apr. 20 |
at No. 12 Ole Miss |
|
Swayze Field • Oxford, MS |
L 6-11 |
Kimbrell (4-0) |
Vaught (0-1) |
None |
SECN+ |
6,851 |
16-17 |
|
Apr. 23 |
Louisiana |
|
Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR |
W 8-2 |
Arnold (6-3) |
Arrighetti (6-3) |
Barkley (6) |
ESPN+ |
256 |
17-17 |
8-5
|
Apr. 24 |
Louisiana |
|
Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR |
W 4-3 (10 inns) |
Delgadillo (2-0) |
Nelson (1-1) |
None |
ESPN+ |
490 |
18-17 |
9-5
|
Apr. 25 |
Louisiana |
|
Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR |
L 4-7 |
Dixon (2-0) |
Wallner (0-1) |
Talley (5) |
ESPN+ |
390 |
18-18 |
9-6
|
|
May (3–10)
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Rank
|
Site/Stadium
|
Score
|
Win
|
Loss
|
Save
|
TV
|
Attendance
|
Overall Record
|
SBC Record
|
May 1 |
at UT Arlington |
|
Clay Gould Ballpark • Arlington, TX |
L 0-1 (11 inns) |
King (3-0) |
Evans (1-2) |
None |
ESPN+ |
314 |
18-19 |
9-7
|
May 2 |
at UT Arlington |
|
Clay Gould Ballpark • Arlington, TX |
L 4-5 |
Wong (3-1) |
Barkley (5-3) |
King (2) |
ESPN+ |
314 |
18-20 |
9-8
|
May 2 |
at UT Arlington |
|
Clay Gould Ballpark • Arlington, TX |
L 0-3 |
Moffat (4-3) |
DeCooman (0-3) |
Austin (2) |
ESPN+ |
314 |
18-21 |
9-9
|
May 7 |
at Sam Houston State |
|
Don Sanders Stadium • Huntsville, TX |
W 5-3 |
Barkley (6-3) |
Dillard (1-4) |
None |
|
462 |
19-21 |
|
May 8 |
at Sam Houston State |
|
Don Sanders Stadium • Huntsville, TX |
L 4-9 |
Wesneski (2-1) |
Funk (1-5) |
Atkinson (2) |
|
462 |
19-22 |
|
May 9 |
at Sam Houston State |
|
Don Sanders Stadium • Huntsville, TX |
L 4-8 |
Backhus (4-0) |
Weatherley (2-1) |
None |
|
462 |
19-23 |
|
May 12 |
at No. 18 Ole Miss |
|
Swayze Field • Oxford, MS |
L 4-9 |
Miller (1-1) |
Wallner (0-2) |
None |
SECN+ |
6,703 |
19-24 |
|
May 14 |
Appalachian State |
|
Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR |
L 1-2 |
Tuthill (4-5) |
Barkley (6-4) |
None |
ESPN+ |
329 |
19-25 |
9-10
|
May 15 |
Appalachian State |
|
Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR |
W 4-2 |
Funk (2-5) |
Cornatzer (1-2) |
Barkley (7) |
ESPN+ |
378 |
20-25 |
10-10
|
May 16 |
Appalachian State |
|
Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR |
L 0-5 |
Tujetsch (1-5) |
Weatherley (2-2) |
Ellington (4) |
ESPN+ |
271 |
20-26 |
10-11
|
May 20 |
at Georgia State |
|
Georgia State Baseball Complex • Decatur, GA |
W 7-3 |
Arnold (7-3) |
Jones (1-7) |
None |
|
239 |
21-26 |
11-11
|
May 21 |
at Georgia State |
|
Georgia State Baseball Complex • Decatur, GA |
L 0-5 |
Dawson (3-2) |
Funk (2-6) |
Watson (1) |
|
278 |
21-27 |
11-12
|
May 22 |
at Georgia State |
|
Georgia State Baseball Complex • Decatur, GA |
L 10-11 |
Brandon (1-2) |
Barkley (6-5) |
Watson (2) |
|
351 |
21-28 |
11-13
|
|
Post-Season (0–2)
|
(0–2)
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Seed/Rank
|
Site/Stadium
|
Score
|
Win
|
Loss
|
Save
|
TV
|
Attendance
|
Overall Record
|
Tournament Record
|
May 25 |
vs. (6E) Coastal Carolina |
|
Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL |
L 1-15 (7 inns) |
Peavyhouse (3-2) |
Arnold (7-4) |
Joyce (1) |
ESPN+ |
|
21-29 |
0-1
|
May 27 |
vs. (1E) South Alabama |
|
Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL |
L 2-6 |
Michael (5-0) |
Evans (1-3) |
None |
ESPN+ |
|
21-30 |
0-2
|
|
- Schedule Source:
*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.
Posteason[]
Conference Accolades[]
- Player of the Year: Mason McWhorter – GASO
- Pitcher of the Year: Hayden Arnold – LR
- Freshman of the Year: Garrett Gainous – TROY
- Newcomer of the Year: Drake Osborn – LA
- Coach of the Year: Mark Calvi – USA
All Conference First Team
- Connor Cooke (LA)
- Hayden Arnold (LR)
- Carlos Tavera (UTA)
- Nick Jones (GASO)
- Drake Osborn (LA)
- Robbie Young (APP)
- Luke Drumheller (APP)
- Drew Frederic (TROY)
- Ben Klutts (ARST)
- Mason McWhorter (GASO)
- Logan Cerny (TROY)
- Ethan Wilson (USA)
- Cameron Jones (GSU)
- Ben Fitzgerald (LA)
|
All Conference Second Team
- JoJo Booker (USA)
- Tyler Tuthill (APP)
- Jeremy Lee (USA)
- Aaron Barkley (LR)
- BT Riopelle (CCU)
- Dylan Paul (UTA)
- Travis Washburn (ULM)
- Eric Brown (CCU)
- Grant Schulz (ULM)
- Tyler Duncan (ARST)
- Parker Chavers (CCU)
- Josh Smith (GSU)
- Andrew Miller (UTA)
- Noah Ledford (GASO)
|
References:[4]
References[]