LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Postseason baseball has arrived for the Trojans.

Little Rock battled back multiple times Saturday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field before falling 10-5 in the regular-season finale, but the focus now quickly shifts toward the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Championship in Marion, Illinois.

"I told the team [after the game], a brand-new season starts today," Little Rock head coach Chris Curry said. "We are 0-0, and what we have to do is recover and get fully rested and ready to play on Wednesday."

The Trojans (30-25, 16-11 OVC) earned the No. 4 seed in the tournament bracket and will open postseason play Wednesday night at 7 p.m. against the winner of Tuesday's matchup between No. 5 Morehead State and No. 8 Southern Indiana. The game will stream live on ESPN+.

Little Rock once again showed the resiliency that has defined much of the season Saturday, answering challenges throughout the afternoon and continuing to compete deep into the game.

Nic Bronzini turned in another strong outing on the mound, striking out seven over four scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. The left-hander continued his late-season surge and kept the Trojans in control early.

After falling behind in the fifth inning, Little Rock immediately answered. Kade Smith and Angel Cano ignited the rally before Nolan Freund delivered an RBI double to left field. Cano later scored on a defensive miscue to give the Trojans a 2-1 advantage.

The Trojans answered again in the sixth inning after SEMO briefly regained the lead. Nico Baumbach worked a key walk and Michael O'Brien came around to score when Jerdy Lopez ripped a two-run double into left field, pushing Little Rock back in front 4-3.

Little Rock carried that lead into the eighth inning before the Redhawks capitalized during a difficult stretch late in the game.

The Trojans continued to battle until the final out as Trey Hill blasted a towering home run to deep left field in the eighth inning for Little Rock's final run of the afternoon.

"I thought the guys competed," Curry said. "Every time we got down we came back and kept fighting."

Cano paced the offense with three hits, continuing his strong finish to the regular season. Hill added two hits and a home run, while Lopez and Freund each drove in two runs.

Little Rock, the reigning OVC Tournament champions, enters the conference tournament after recording its second straight 30-win season and remains one of the league's most dangerous teams heading into postseason play.

The OVC Championship begins Tuesday with two single-elimination opening-round games before shifting into double-elimination play Wednesday.

2026 OVC Baseball Championship Schedule
Tuesday, May 19
Game 1: No. 6 Lindenwood vs. No. 7 UT Martin – 3 p.m.
Game 2: No. 5 Morehead State vs. No. 8 Southern Indiana – 7 p.m.

Wednesday, May 20
Game 3: No. 3 Southeast Missouri vs. Winner Game 1 – 3 p.m.
Game 4: No. 4 Little Rock vs. Winner Game 2 – 7 p.m.

Thursday, May 21
Game 5: No. 2 Eastern Illinois vs. Winner Game 3 – 9:30 a.m.
Game 6: No. 1 SIUE vs. Winner Game 4 – 1 p.m.
Game 7: Loser Game 4 vs. Loser Game 5 – 4:30 p.m.
Game 8: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 6 – 8 p.m.

Friday, May 22
Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 – 11 a.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 – 3 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 9 – 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 23
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 11 – 1 p.m.
Game 13: (if necessary): 60 minutes after Game 12A

All tournament games will stream live on ESPN+.