Little Rock baseball is two wins away from its first trip to the Men’s College World Series, and a handful of former Razorbacks are making the journey possible.
The Trojans (42-18) take the field this weekend in their first-ever Super Regional, needing to beat Arizona twice at home to reach Omaha. Headlining Little Rock’s roster are former Arkansas players who are now helping lead a program that’s never been this far.
Kade Smith, who played at Arkansas from 2022-2024, transferred to Little Rock for his final season of eligibility. He hit .339 with 16 home runs and 59 RBIs this spring, anchoring the middle of the Trojans’ lineup.
“This is what you play for,” Smith said. “To have a chance to go to Omaha, to be one of the last eight teams standing — that’s the dream.”
Smith’s connection to college baseball’s biggest stage runs deeper than just playing for a team chasing history. He was in the stands at Charles Schwab Field in 2022, watching Arkansas face Auburn in the College World Series. At the time, he was being recruited by the Razorbacks.
“I remember watching Peyton Stovall go 5 for 5 in that game,” Smith said. “That’s the level you want to play at. That’s what Omaha represents.”
Tag Andrews is another former Razorback contributing to Little Rock’s run. He redshirted during his lone season at Arkansas in 2023 and transferred where he could get more playing time. This spring, he’s been a key piece of the Trojans’ pitching staff.
Andrews’ favorite College World Series memory comes from watching Gage Wood throw a 19-strikeout no-hitter against Murray State in an elimination game at Omaha — a performance that remains one of the most dominant in recent tournament history.
“Watching Gage do that, seeing what it means to pitch on that stage — that’s something you never forget,” Andrews said. “Now we have our own chance to make those kinds of memories.”
Evan Lee, Little Rock’s pitching coach, played at Arkansas from 2018-2021 and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021. He’s now overseeing a staff that’s carried the Trojans through the regional rounds.
“These kids have earned this,” Lee said. “We came into the season with goals, and now we’re two wins away from something this program has never done. That means something.”
Little Rock earned its Super Regional bid by winning the Fayetteville Regional last weekend at Baum-Walker Stadium — the same venue where Smith and Andrews once played for Arkansas. The Trojans beat No. 1 seed Oklahoma State in the championship game, 6-3, to clinch their first regional title.
The program has grown significantly under head coach Brooks Rademacher, who took over in 2022. This season’s 42 wins are the most in school history.
For NWA baseball fans, the storyline carries extra weight. Four players on Little Rock’s roster have Arkansas connections — Smith, Andrews, Lee, and catcher Kendall Payne, who played at Arkansas-Pine Bluff before transferring. That Arkansas ties give the Super Regional a regional flavor beyond the typical conference matchup.
“We know what’s at stake,” Smith said. “We know what this means for Little Rock baseball, and we know what it would mean to get there through a Super Regional against Arizona. But honestly, it’s just about going out and playing our game.”
Game one is scheduled for Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. The Trojans will need to win both games to become the first Arkansas-based program to reach the College World Series since Arkansas made its run in 2022.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
