TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State opens up a four-game home stand this week with a Tuesday night contest against Illinois as the Sycamores welcome the Fighting Illini to Bob Warn Field for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch. The game is scheduled to be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
 
Tuesday's game day promotional schedule features a Koozie giveaway to the first 200 fans 21 or older courtesy of Bud Light. The concession stand will also feature $2 Tuesday Sodexo Specials.
 
The Sycamores (20-19) and the Illini (22-15) have already lined up once in the 2025 season with Illinois claiming the March 18 win at Illinois Field, 8-6. Illinois' trip to Bob Warn Field marks the third Big Ten team to come to Terre Haute, with the Sycamores hosting both Indiana and Purdue over the first two weeks of March.
 
Recapping the Weekend
Indiana State was unable to hold off late Evansville rallies in each of the final two games of the weekend series at the Sycamores dropped to 8-7 in Missouri Valley play after going 1-2 against the Aces at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium.
 
The Sycamores claimed the Thursday evening opener behind strong pitching from both Max McEwen and Gavin Morris, while Carter Beck connected on the go-ahead solo home run in the fifth inning in Indiana State's 2-0 shutout win. The Aces evened the series on Friday night with Matt Flaherty connected on the walk-off solo home run in the ninth inning to claim the 6-5 victory.
 
Indiana State led the series finale, 8-2, in the fifth inning, but Evansville rallied late on Saturday evening to tie the game up in the ninth at 8-8 on Cal McGinnis' two-run single. After the Sycamores retook the lead in the 11th on Thomas Emerich and Mason Roell RBI singles, the Purple Aces rallied again with McGinnis and Kevin McCormick driving in runs in the three-run inning to claim the 11-10 victory.
 
Emerich was Indiana State's leader at the plate as the graduate student connected at a .571 clip with eight hits over 14 at-bats. He added two doubles and connected on his second home run of the 2025 season on Friday evening, while slugging .929.
 
Andrew Ortiz (.500), Jeremy Martinez (.385), Carter Beck (.357), and Jackson Taylor (.308) all hit above the .300 mark over the three game series as Indiana State hit .316 as a team against the Evansville pitching staff. Taylor added a pair of doubles, while Beck homered in the series. The Sycamore defense also posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage over the three games.
 
Max McEwen (1-0, 0.00 ERA) showcased why he has become one of the top arms in the Missouri Valley as the redshirt sophomore outdueled UE's Kenton Deverman in the Thursday night opening 2-0 win. McEwen went 6.2 innings allowing four hits while striking out six. Jack Armstrong (0-0, 0.00 ERA) was also dominant with six strikeouts over a 3.2-inning scoreless outing, while Breyllin Suriel (3.2 IP, 2.45 ERA, 5 K) and Gavin Morris (4.1 IP, 6.23 ERA, 11 K) were also unhittable at times over the weekend series.
 
Season Overall
Carlos Pena (.358) remains the Sycamores' top hitter in the 2025 season as the utility player leads the Sycamores in home runs (11) and RBIs (43), while sitting second on the team with 11 doubles and third with 33 runs scored. Zack Henderson (.357) and Andrew Ortiz (.350) have provided potent bats in right field for the Sycamores, while Jackson Taylor (.316) and Carter Beck (.302) are also hitting above .300 on the year to date.
 
Keegan Garis (.293), Thomas Emerich (.292), and Jeremy Martinez (.287) have stabilized the middle of the Indiana State order with Garis second on the team with nine home runs, while Emerich is the team's doubles leader with 13. Martinez is second on the team with walks drawn (24) while taking over as the primary catcher as a true freshman.
 
The Sycamores' pitching staff has seen 18 arms take the mound on the year with a combined 5.86 ERA over 337.2 innings pitched. Indiana State has combined to post a 288:180 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .262 opponent batting average on the year.
 
Jacob Spencer (0-1, 9.00 ERA) and Ryan Karst (1-1, 6.14 ERA have been working their way back into the rotation over the last two weeks as the right-handed duo both work their way back from injury. Jack Armstrong (2-0, 3.51 ERA), Colby Morse (2-3, 6.53 ERA), and Carson Seeman (0-0, 5.73 ERA) help lead six pitchers who have made double-digit relief outings on the season.
 
Scouting Illinois
Illinois enters the midweek contest with a 22-15 overall record after taking the series finale this past weekend at Washington with a 3-1 win over the Huskies. The Fighting Illini took two of three against Indiana the previous weekend and picked up a run-rule 17-6 victory over SIUE.
 
Illinois, a 2024 NCAA Regional participant last season, was not among the six teams ranked by the Big Ten Conference's coaches in the preseason poll. The Illini were represented on the preseason team by Ben Plumley (RHP), Jacob Schroeder (C), and Drake Westcott (1B).
 
Offense continues to be Illinois' calling card this season with the Illini hitting .296 as a team with 54 home runs over the first 37 games of the season. Vytas Valincius (.369), Collin Jennings (.340), and Jack Zebig (.317) have been Illinois' top hitters on the season with Jennings and Kyle Schupmann pacing the Illini with nine home runs apiece. Valincius has a team-high 13 doubles and 38 RBIs, while Nick Groves has a team-high 12 stolen bases on the year.
 
Illinois has utilized 19 different pitchers on the mound this season with seven different arms earning starts over the 2025 season. The Fighting Illini have posted a team 6.09 ERA on the year while allowing opponents to hit .281 from the plate.
 
Series History
Illinois holds the all-time 48-40-2 record against Indiana State dating back to the inaugural matchup in 1906. The Sycamores and Illini split the 2024 season's matchups between the programs last year with Indiana State winning the contest in Terre Haute, while Illinois returned the favor in Champaign.
 
The Fighting Illini claimed the first game of the series in 2025 as Illinois topped the Sycamores on March 18, 2025, with an 8-6 win at Illinois Field. The Sycamores brought the long-ball in the first matchup with Eli Gipson homering twice, while Carlos Pena and Carter Beck also connected on home runs in the loss. Illinois utilized a six-run second inning thanks to a Jack Zebig three-run home run, while Jacob Schroeder added a solo shot in the midweek win.
 
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on the Sycamore Baseball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both the App Store and the Google Play Store.