MARION, Ill. —
Jack Cline gave up just one run while throwing a complete game on two days' rest and freshman
Cade Martin drove in the game-winning score in the eighth inning Saturday as Little Rock completed an improbable 5-0 run through the Ohio Valley Conference tournament and claimed the title with a 2-1 win over Eastern Illinois at Mountain Dew Park. The Trojans move on to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2011 and just the second time in program history via the automatic bid that comes with winning the conference tournament.
"I could not be more proud today to be the head coach for Little Rock baseball. This is why I took the job 10 years ago, to bring championships home to Little Rock. What unbelievable resilience and toughness that was shown by the 2025 Trojans for all the struggles in the regular season … to be able to push reset and put it behind us and go win five straight in the OVC tournament. They are without a doubt one of the toughest teams I've ever coached and it is a pleasure to be in their dugout. This one is for all of our fans, our alumni, our administration, Chancellor Drale, Frank Cuervo, and everybody that supports us along the way. We could not be more proud to wear Little Rock on our chest and we are not done yet." – Little Rock head coach Chris Curry
Cline went the distance on 129 pitches – the same pitch count by
Jackson Wells in his complete game in the tournament opener – allowed just six hits and struck out three. Martin was the only Trojans to have multiple hits and his eighth-inning single to right scored
Ty Rhoades, who had just reached base on a triple to left center with two outs. Martin was named OVC Tournament Most Valuable Player while he, along with Wells, Cline,
Brody Bunting,
Zach Henry,
Alex Seguine, and
Cooper Chaplain, were all named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Trojans (24-32) entered the tournament having lost 13 of its last 14 games in the regular season, but put it all together during the five-game tourney stretch. After toppling both Southern Indiana (10-1) and SEMO (9-7) on Wednesday's single elimination day, Little Rock returned Thursday to upset regular season champion Eastern Illinois in extra innings before besting Lindenwood in the semifinals on Friday.
Now, Little Rock will wait to see where the Trojans will land when the NCAA Regional selections are made Monday.
