Little Rock Releases 2017 Schedule

2017 Schedule (PDF)

LITTLE ROCK – After a record 2016 season, Little Rock baseball will look to improve further as head coach Chris Curry unveiled the 2017 schedule on Monday.
 
The Trojans' 2017 schedule will be a tough one as it faces 13 teams who finished in the top 150 of last year's RPI. Of those 13, 10 ranked in the top 100 and four ranked in the top 50. Little Rock will face five teams who advanced to the 2016 NCAA Regionals. The Trojans' 54 game schedule consists of 27 games at Gary Hogan Field, 26 games on the road and one game at Dickey-Stephens Park.
 
"I'm excited about the level of competition for this season's schedule," Curry said. "We have five opponents who played in the regionals last season, and we're going to be tested very, very early."
 
Little Rock will begin the 2017 season on the road for the first time since 2011 as it visits Summit League Champion and NCAA Regional participant Oral Roberts for a three-game series beginning on Feb. 17. The Trojans then head to Ruston, Louisiana, to face NCAA Regional participant Louisiana Tech on Feb. 21.
 
Little Rock's home opener will take place on Feb. 24 as it welcomes Purdue to Gary Hogan Field for a three-game series. After a quick trip to Oklahoma on Feb. 28, the Trojans return to Gary Hogan Field for a four-game series against Fort Wayne beginning on March 3.
 
The Trojans will take off to Nacogdoches, Texas, for a three-game series at Stephen F. Austin beginning on March 10 before heading to Conway to face Central Arkansas in the first game of the Rock 'n' Roar Rivalry on March 14.
 
Little Rock will begin Sun Belt Conference play at home against Troy on March 17 before heading to Missouri for a midweek game. From there, the Trojans will visit ULM for a three game series. Little Rock will face its toughest non-conference test when it visits NCAA Regional participant Ole Miss on March 28.
 
After visiting Oxford, the Trojans will come home for an eight-game homestand that begins with a three-game series against Sun Belt opponent Appalachian State on April 2. Little Rock will then play UAPB in midweek action on April 4. The Trojans will continue Sun Belt play at home against Texas State on April 7 and will host Stephen F. Austin in a midweek game on April 11. Little Rock will continue its play against Texas-based schools when it visits UT Arlington for Sun Belt play on April 13.
 
Little Rock will come home for a four-game homestand beginning on April 19 as it hosts Louisiana Tech in midweek action. Defending Sun Belt Conference champion Louisiana comes to town for a three-game series beginning on April 21. The Trojans have taken the season series against the Ragin' Cajuns for the past two years. Little Rock will then head over to Dickey-Stephens Park to face rival Central Arkansas in the second game of the Rock 'n' Roar Rivalry on April 25.
 
Little Rock then goes on its longest road trip of the season with back-to-back Sun Belt series at Georgia Southern and NCAA Regional participant South Alabama. The Trojans will play the Eagles beginning on April 28 before playing the Jaguars beginning on May 5.
 
After their six-game road trip, Little Rock comes home for its final homestand of the season with five games set to be played at Gary Hogan Field. Little Rock will face Northwestern State for the first time since 2006 on May 9. The Trojans' final home Sun Belt series will take place against Georgia State beginning on May 12. Little Rock will wrap up its home schedule against Central Arkansas on May 16 before concluding the 2017 regular season at rival Arkansas State beginning on May 18.
 
"The always rigorous Sun Belt Conference is going to test us more with adding an even tougher national champion to the league standings," Curry said. "It's going to make for a fun and challenging season."
 
The Trojans will be looking for a return trip to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament as it takes place in Statesboro, Georgia, on the campus of Georgia Southern beginning on May 24.
 
"The good news is that we if play as well as we expect to and are successful, our record and RPI should be respected in the postseason," Curry added.
 
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