TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – It's a new season for Indiana State baseball as the Sycamores head south to Puerto Rico for the start of 2026. Indiana State will take on Manhattan, North Carolina State, and Wake Forest over their three days in the Commonwealth as the Sycamores take part in the second Puerto Rico Baseball Challenge.
The Sycamores will open the year on Friday, March 13, in Caguas, Puerto Rico as Indiana State takes on Manhattan with a noon ET first pitch. The Sycamores move to Ponce, Puerto Rico for the final two games taking on North Carolina State (Feb. 14, 9:30 a.m.), and Wake Forest (Feb. 15, 2:30 p.m.). All three games will be streamed live via VictoryPlus, while live stats will be available via links on GoSycamores.com.
Puerto Rico Baseball Challenge
- Indiana State heads overseas for the first time in program history this season, not once, but twice, as the Sycamores hit the road to both Puerto Rico and The Bahamas over the first month of the season.
- The Sycamores will compete in the Puerto Rico Baseball Challenge for the first time in program history over February 13-15 as Indiana State heads to Caguas and Ponce, Puerto Rico to take on Manhattan, North Carolina State, and Wake Forest.
- The Puerto Rico Baseball Challenge began in the 2025 season as eight teams headed to play in the inaugural season.
- Indiana State, Boston College, Houston, Manhattan, North Carolina State, Seton Hall, Wake Forest, and Washington are all a part of the 2026 field.
Sycamore – Puerto Rico Connection
- Indiana State has featured a number of players from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico over the years, mostly recently starting to make headway into the island over the last decade with a number of players coming to the roster.
- This season, the Sycamores feature three players from Puerto Rico, including two hailing from Caguas where Indiana State will open the 2026 season against Manhattan.
- The Sycamores have had 11 players from Puerto Rico on the roster dating back to the 1985 season when Boi Rodriguez (1985-87) joined the roster. He was a member of the 1986 College World Series team and until recently, held the Indiana State career home run record (48).
- Boi Rodriguez, Roby Enriquez, Luis Hernandez, and Randal Diaz have all gone on to sign professional contracts following their time at Indiana State
2026 Sycamores from Puerto Rico
Sycamores from Puerto Rico (Since 1985)
- Boi Rodriguez (1985-87) - Bayaman, Puerto Rico
- Roby Enriquez (2018-19) - Carolina, Puerto Rico
- Diego Gines (2020-22) - Canovanas, Puerto Rico
- Luis Hernandez (2022-24) - Gurabo, Puerto Rico
- Randal Diaz (2022-24) - Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
- Jorge Pereira (2023-24) - Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
- Victor Cartegena (2024-25) - Guayama, Puerto Rico
- Adrian Lopez (2024-25) - Gurabo, Puerto Rico
- Jorge Cartegena (2025-26) - San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Jeremy Martinez (2025-26) - Caguas, Puerto Rico
- Sebastian Torres (2025-26) - Caguas, Puerto Rico
From Terredise to Paradise
- Two weeks after the Sycamores head to Puerto Rico, Indiana State is back overseas as the Sycamores head to The Bahamas to take on Penn State University at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium.
- The series between Indiana State and Penn State will be held over February 27-March 1 and are the first-ever NCAA Division I baseball games to be played in The Bahamas.
- Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium, located on the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, opened in 2022 and features a synthetic grass field, team locker rooms and executive suites. The venue also played host to the 2022 Caribbean Baseball Cup.
Indiana State Against the Field
Manhattan
- The Sycamores have never lined up on the field against the Jaspers in their respective program histories.
- The Jaspers play in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with the Sycamores posting a 10-4 all-time mark against opponents from the MAAC.
- Indiana State last took on a team from the MAAC in 2023 when the Sycamores topped Quinnipiac in Port Charlotte, Fla., winning 6-1, on February 18.
- Manhattan was selected ninth overall in the MAAC preseason baseball poll receiving 68 total points.
- The Jaspers' second baseman Ryan Lordier was the lone player recognized on the preseason MAAC All-Conference team following a season where he posted a .329 batting average with 52 hits, eight doubles, a home run, and 16 stolen bases.
North Carolina State
- Indiana State is 1-1 all-time against North Carolina State in their respective program histories, taking on the Wolfpack twice in the 2016 season in Raleigh, N.C.
- The Wolfpack won the inaugural contest on March 15, 2016, winning 8-3, before the Sycamores responded to take the 11-7 victory the following day to even the series.
- Indiana State is 33-33-1 all-time against the Atlantic Coast Conference, with their latest game coming against Virginia Tech last season at the LeClair Classic hosted by East Carolina on February 28, 2025, with the Sycamores falling to the Hokies, 10-2.
- North Carolina State was selected sixth overall in the ACC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving 169 total points.
- The Wolfpack earned a spot in the 2025 D1Baseball Championship in the Auburn Regional and advanced to the Regional Championship Game against Auburn, before falling to the Tigers.
- N.C. State opens the year ranked No. 17 in the D1Baseball.com Preseason Top 25.
Wake Forest
- Indiana State is 0-1 all-time against Wake Forest in their respective program histories with the inaugural matchup between the teams coming in the 2004 season.
- The Demon Deacons took the 8-4 win on March 14, 2004, in a neutral site contest in Millington, Tenn. in the Easton/USA Challenge.
- Indiana State is 33-33-1 all-time against the Atlantic Coast Conference, with their latest game coming against Virginia Tech last season at the LeClair Classic hosted by East Carolina on February 28, 2025, with the Sycamores falling to the Hokies, 10-2.
- Wake Forest was selected ninth overall in the ACC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving 145 total points.
- Wake Forest was one of the four teams that competed in the 2025 Knoxville Regional in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship Field, advancing all the way to the Regional Championship Game, before falling to Tennessee.
- Wake Forest opens the year ranked No. 21 in the D1Baseball.com Preseason Top 25.
D1Baseball MVC Player of the Year, Preseason Poll
- Carter Beck continues to pull in the preseason accolades as the junior outfielder was named preseason D1Baseball MVC Player of the Year by the organization when they announced their preseason poll and awards.
- The Sycamore outfielder was a near-unanimous pick for preseason MVC Player of the Year after slashing .335/.417/.564 last season with 15 doubles, 11 home runs and 11 stolen bases.
- Indiana State was selected sixth overall in the conference's preseason poll by the organization out of the nine teams that will compete in the Missouri Valley Conference this year.
- The Sycamores posted a 24-31 overall record, 12-15 in MVC play in 2025.
D1Baseball Missouri Valley Conference Top Pro Prospects
- Carter Beck (Class of 2026) and Ty Brooks (Class of 2027) were both listed among the top professional prospects by D1Baseball as the organization announced their preseason Missouri Valley Conference picks.
- Beck projects at the No. 4 prospect in the 2026 class among the Missouri Valley players after returning to the field in his junior season. The Carnduff, Saskatchewan, Canada native was among the Valley's leading hitters in his first season at Indiana State.
- Brooks is listed as the No. 5 prospect in the Missouri Valley in the 2027 MLB Draft as the sophomore right-hander projects to once again take over a weekend rotation spot this season.
- He served on both the weekend rotation, as well as a key bullpen contributor down the stretch with a lockdown save in the Sycamores' extra-inning win over Purdue.
Transfers (Where They Came From)
- The transfer portal continues to make news around the country and the Sycamores are one of the teams who have utilized it as Indiana State pulled in a number of new players to the 2026 roster.
- Indiana State will feature nine new players to the 2026 roster who played the 2025 season at a different collegiate institution lining up in positions across the diamond.
Pitchers
Infielders
Outfielders
- OF Eddie Alonso (Madison College)
Indiana State Baseball Season Tickets on Sale Now
Season tickets for the 2026 Indiana State baseball season are now on sale as the Sycamores head into their second season under Head Coach
Tracy Archuleta. The Sycamores will play 21 home games inside Bob Warn Field this season, starting on March 4 against Lindenwood.
Reserved chairback season tickets can be purchased for $110. General admission season tickets will go on sale as well with adult ($75), seniors ($55), and youth ($40) tickets also being available for purchase. There will be a $5 surcharge added to those wanting tickets printed.
The Sycamores have teamed up with Pacesetter Sports and the Spirit Shop for the third consecutive season for a season ticket deal. Fans will receive a $50 Pacesetter gift card for each $110 reserved chairback season ticket, $35 gift card for each $75 general admission season ticket, $25 gift card for each $55 senior general admission ticket, and $20 gift card for each $40 youth season ticket sold.
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.
