Little Rock Baseball Opens 2026 Season with Home Series Against Eastern Michigan

The long-awaited return of Little Rock Baseball has arrived. The Trojans open the 2026 campaign this weekend with a three-game home series against Eastern Michigan at Gary Hogan Field.

Little Rock and Eastern Michigan will square off Friday at 3:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m., and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. All three games will stream live on ESPN+.
Game Information
Who: Little Rock vs. Eastern Michigan
When: Feb. 13–15
Where: Gary Hogan Field
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: LRTrojans.com
Tickets: LRTrojans.com/tickets
Coach Talk
"They have an interim coach over there and a brand new assistant," head coach Chris Curry said. "We know what they've done in the past, but with a new coach and assistant, you never know what they might do. I'm going into the weekend wide-eyed and wide open. Historically, they have big, strong Midwest guys who will be ready and timed up well to hit the fastball."
Series History

• This marks just the second series between the two programs, with the all-time record tied 1-1.
• Little Rock hosted Eastern Michigan for a two-game set in March 2010.
• EMU won the opener 7-6, and the Trojans responded with a 15-4 victory in the second game.

Scouting the Eagles
Eastern Michigan returns two of its top hitters from last season in Devan Zirwas and Ty Stecko. Zirwas led the team with a .337 batting average, adding eight home runs, 20 doubles, and 53 RBI. Stecko hit .325 with 11 home runs and 37 RBI.

On the mound, Ethan Davis (43.1 innings pitched) is the Eagles' top returning arms. EMU was selected to finish ninth in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll after posting a 21-31 record last season.
Trojan Report
Little Rock's roster features 23 newcomers but returns two All-OVC performers in Cooper Chaplain and Ryan Geck.

Ty Rhoades enters the season ranked among the top 10 in program history in multiple categories, including hits, RBI, total bases, and games played. Nico Baumbach returns for his seventh season with a strong opportunity to break the program's career home run record.

Head coach Chris Curry enters the weekend just 11 wins shy of becoming the all-time winningest coach in program history.