TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State continues its seven-game home stand this week as the Sycamores welcome Illinois to Bob Warn Field on Wednesday, March 18, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. ET. The game will be streamed live via ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
 
Recapping The Weekend

• Indiana State fell in all three games this past weekend against Gonzaga in their home opening weekend series at Bob Warn Field. The Sycamores fell by scores of 7-4, 7-4, and 23-16, over the three-game series against the Bulldogs.
• Mason Roell (.429) was the top Indiana State batter over the weekend with three hits over seven at-bats over two games at the plate. He added a .600 on-base percentage and a .429 slugging percentage, while adding a team-high three stolen bases all coming on Sunday afternoon.
• Carter Beck hit .333 from the plate with four extra-base hits over the three game series, including a pair of doubles and two home runs. Beck posted a three-hit game in the Sunday finale including his first multi-homer game of 2026, while adding four runs scored.
• Nick Sutherlin came off the bench on Sunday afternoon with a pinch-hit grand slam late in the contest and added a three-run home run on his way to posting a team-high eight RBIs over the series.
• Emil Estrella and Caden Miller both homered over the weekend as the Sycamores combined to hit six home runs over the three games, including five on Sunday afternoon.
• Four different Sycamores scored at least four runs over the games with Carter Beck, Emil Estrella, Andrew Ortiz, and Eddie Alonso all touching home four times.
• Weston Fulk went 3-for-8 over the weekend on his way to posting a .375 batting average with a double and two RBIs.
• Indiana State utilized 13 different pitchers on the mound over the weekend series against Gonzaga with Colby Morse and Hunter Small both making multiple appearances.
• Ryan Karst went a career-high 4.0 innings allowing one hit while striking out four batters in an extended relief outing on Friday night.
• Colby Morse worked 3.0 innings over two appearances allowing two hits and a run while striking out three.
• Ty Brooks (5.40 ERA) went at least 5.0 innings for the fifth time in the 2026 season, while Jack Armstrong and Grant Parson both recorded weekend starts.
• Indiana State posted a 10.93 ERA as a pitching staff on the mound, while posting 22 strikeouts over 28.0 innings. 

Season Spotlight

• Mason Roell (.355) leads the team's hitting efforts over the 2026 season through the first 19 games of the season.
• Mason Roell has posted five extra-base hits, including two home runs, two doubles, and a triple, while scoring 14 runs and driving in eight RBIs. He currently leads the team in on-base percentage (.535) and slugging percentage (.677).
• Carter Beck remains among the team leaders in batting average (.289), while leading the Sycamores in hits (22), doubles (eight), runs scored (19), while adding three home runs and driving in 14 RBIs.
• Caden Miller (.284) enters the game on an 11-game on-base streak and is currently second on the team in RBIs (19), while adding four doubles, a triple, and a pair of home runs on the year.
• Nick Sutherlin is the team's home run (4) and RBIs (21) leader while adding 16 runs scored and five doubles.
• Emil Estrella (.269) is also among the team leader in extra-base hits on the season with six doubles, two triples, and three stolen bases, while adding 16 RBIs and 17 runs scored.
• Mason Roell and Emil Estrella are tied for the team lead with five stolen bases apiece.
• Indiana State leads the Missouri Valley in team doubles (44) and doubles per game (2.32), with Carter Beck leading the MVC individually in doubles with eight.
• Two Sycamores have been in the Indiana State starting lineup in all 19 games on the year with Carter Beck and Emil Estrella penciled in every game.
• Caden Miller and Nick Sutherlin have also played in all 19 games on the year.
• Indiana State's pitching efforts have been led by Ty Brooks (3-0, 2.53 ERA) on the season as the sophomore right-hander has pitched 32.0 innings with a 22:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .168 opponent batting average.
• Jack Armstrong (2-1, 3.72 ERA) has also been among the team's pitching leaders with 20 strikeouts over 19.1 innings allowing opponents to hit just .189 from the plate.
• Colby Morse (2-0, 5.52 ERA) and Hunter Small (0-2, 8.49 ERA) lead Indiana State in total appearances on the mound this season.
• Overall, the Sycamores have posted a 7.33 team ERA on the season with a 152:97 strikeout-to-walk ratio while allowing opponents to hit .282 from the plate. 

Sycamores Against Illinois

• Indiana State and Illinois have lined up 92 times over their respective program histories with Illinois holding the 48-42-2 all-time advantage over the Sycamores.
• Illinois swept the season series against Indiana State last season claiming the 8-6 win on March 18, 2025, in Urbana-Champaign, before recording the 19-8 (7 inn.) win on April 22, 2025 in Terre Haute.
• The teams first lined up back on May 12, 1906, in Terre Haute with Illinois claiming the 3-2 win in the inaugural contest.
• Indiana State's last win against the Fighting Illini came at the 2024 Lexington Regional as the Sycamores topped Illinois, 13-2, in an elimination game.

Sycamores Against the Big Ten Conference

• Indiana State has an all-time mark of 165-170-5 against the current iteration of the Big Ten Conference.
• The Sycamores are 2-1 against the Big Ten this season after taking two of three games against Penn State at the inaugural 2026 Atlantis Collegiate Baseball Series played over February 27-March 1 at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.
• Indiana State is scheduled to continue annual home-and-home series with Illinois, Indiana, and Purdue over the 2026 season. 

About the Fighting Illini

• Illinois enters the midweek contest with a 10-8 overall record on the season and is coming off a series win over Minnesota after taking two of three from the Golden Gophers this past weekend at Illini Field.
• Illinois has added wins over South Florida, VCU, Coastal Carolina, Lindenwood, Michigan State, College of Charleston, and Albany on the year.
• Illinois was not ranked among the top six teams recognized in the Big Ten Preseason Poll.
• The Fighting Illini put three players on the Big Ten Players to Watch List with Nick Groves (OF), Regan Hall (LHP), and Collin Jennings (OF) all garnering accolades prior to the start of the year.
• Outfielder/Left-handed pitcher Brayden Mazzacano was recognized on the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award Watch List as recognized by the College Baseball Foundation earlier this month.
• Relievers Zach Bates and Mitch Dye were both honored on the preseason NCBWA Stopped of the Year Award watch list prior to the start of the 2026 season.
• AJ Putty (.394) has been the team's leading hitter through the first part of the season posting team-highs in hits (28), doubles (8), and RBIs (26).
• Nick Groves (.339), Michael Farina (.314), and Will Johannes (.306) are all hitting above the .300 mark on the season.
• Collin Jennings is tied for the team lead with five home runs, while Will Johannes has four homers and 16 RBIs to his totals.
• Illinois is hitting .263 as a team from the plate on the year.
• The Illinois pitching staff has utilized 17 different pitchers over the 2026 season and has combined to post a 4.05 ERA over 160.0 innings.
• Overall, the Illinois staff has recorded a 136:49 strikeout-to-walk ratio and allowed opponents to hit .225 from the plate.

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.