2021 Little Rock Trojans baseball team

2021 Little Rock Trojans baseball
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record21–30 (11–13 SBC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Noah Sanders
  • R. D. Spiehs
Home stadiumGary Hogan Field
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Sun Belt Conference baseball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East Division
South Alabama  x‍‍‡‍y 15 – 9   .625 36 – 22   .621
Georgia Southern  ‍‍‍ 14 – 10   .583 34 – 23   .596
Troy  ‍‍‍ 13 – 11   .542 27 – 26   .509
Appalachian State  ‍‍‍ 11 – 10   .524 21 – 31   .404
Georgia State  ‍‍‍ 12 – 12   .500 18 – 37   .327
Coastal Carolina  ‍‍‍ 9 – 12   .429 27 – 24   .529
West Division
Louisiana  x‍‍‍ 13 – 11   .542 32 – 23   .582
UT Arlington  ‍‍‍ 13 – 11   .542 27 – 30   .474
Louisiana–Monroe  ‍‍‍ 11 – 13   .458 26 – 26   .500
Little Rock  ‍‍‍ 11 – 13   .458 21 – 30   .412
Arkansas State  ‍‍‍ 10 – 14   .417 19 – 30   .388
Texas State  ‍‍‍ 9 – 15   .375 21 – 36   .368
x – Division champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of June 7, 2021[1]
Rankings from D1Baseball


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 Louisiana–Monroe 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)
SBC Tournament (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.

Postseason

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

References:[4]

References

  1. ^ "Sun Belt Conference baseball standings". D1Baseball.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  2. ^ "Curry Adds 10 in Fall Early Signing Period". Little Rock Athletics. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  3. ^ Conference, Sun Belt. "Sun Belt Conference Announces 2021 Baseball Preseason Honors". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  4. ^ "Sun Belt Announces 2021 Baseball All-Conference Teams & Postseason Awards". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved January 5, 2022.