RUSTON, La. – The reigning Southland Conference champion HCU Huskies are set to open the 2026 baseball season on Friday with a four-game set at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.
The 2026 version of the Huskies is a far cry from the start of the 2025 campaign when the Huskies entered year one under head coach
Clay VanderLaan with just seven returning players from the previous season. HCU's roster boasts 24 returning players from last year's SLC title-winning team along with 17 transfers from the NCAA Division I, Division II and junior college ranks.
Senior
Joshua Caravalho returns on the mound after leading the Huskies with nine wins last season, the most by an HCU pitcher since Matthew McCollough won eight in 2018.
Ben Smith also returns to the starting rotation after making 13 starts and posting a 4-6 overall record as a junior. New Mexico transfer
David Lopez is expected to join the rotation after starting 15 games in two seasons with the Lobos with a 5-4 record.
Senior
Ben Norton and
Louis Castano return as bullpen anchors after playing pivotal roles last season. Norton Made 26 appearances, finishing with nine saves and a 2.65 ERA while limiting opponents to just a .211 batting average. Castano, meanwhile, ended his junior year with a 7-1 record, three saves and a 3.99 ERA in 56.1 innings pitched.
Outfield
Rhett Hendricks returns for his senior year after earning second team all-SLC honors as a junior, finishing last year leading the team with a .323 batting average, a .406 on-base percentage while also finishing with a .506 slugging percentage. His six home runs and 38 RBI both ranked second on the team while he also added 27 runs scored and nine doubles.
Senior first baseman
Katcher Halligan is back after clubbing 18 doubles last season, tying for third-most in the Southland.
Jack Walker, a senior outfielder, is coming off a year in which he batted .312 with a .402 OBP, 13 doubles, 35 runs scored and 32 RBI.
Louisiana Tech was picked second in the Conference USA preseason poll after finishing 2025 with a 32-25 record. The Bulldogs return all three of their all-conference selections from last season, including CUSA Freshman of the Year Brooks Roberson. Roberson made 11 starts on the mound as a freshman, finishing with a 5-4 record, 64 strikeouts and a .235 batting average against in 71.2 innings.
Senior outfielder Sebastian Mexico was a second team all-CUSA performer as a junior, leading the team with a .315 average, 12 home runs and 57 RBI. Trey Hawsey, meanwhile, was a second team all-conference selection as a freshman after posting a .430 OBP with nine home runs, 30 RBI and 26 runs scored.
The Huskies will host Sam Houston for their home opener on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 6:30 p.m. before hosting Alcorn State in their first home series on Feb. 20-22.
