Missouri State University announced on April 14 that its baseball team will face the University of Missouri Tigers at Hammons Field, with first pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The game marks a rematch of last week’s contest between the two in-state rivals.
The matchup is significant as both teams are competing for standing within their respective conferences, and it serves as Military Appreciation Night at the stadium. Tickets are available online, and Missouri State students can attend free of charge. The Bears have demonstrated strong performance this season, entering the game with a record of 24-10 overall and a conference record of 12-3.
Missouri State is currently ranked 15th in the NCAA RPI through April 13 and has appeared in the Perfect Game Top 25 rankings at number 23. The team has played one of Division I’s tougher schedules, with opponents holding a .557 winning percentage so far this year and projected to finish even higher by season’s end.
The Bears have shown power at the plate under head coach Joey Hawkins, ranking seventh nationally with nearly five hundred home runs since he became hitting coach in 2022. This season alone, they rank second in Conference USA and ninth nationally with seventy home runs while leading their league in batting average (.308), slugging percentage (.558), and on-base percentage (.421). Key players include junior Caden Bogenpohl—third nationally for walks this year—and senior Taeg Gollert, who recently tied Missouri State’s career doubles record.
Hammons Field has been an advantage for Missouri State; they hold a perfect home record this year (15-0) and possess the nation’s longest active home winning streak. This season also marks their first competing in Conference USA after thirty-five years as members of the Missouri Valley Conference.
