Missouri State (7-11) is set to travel southeast for a Tuesday afternoon matchup against Arkansas State (9-10). The game, scheduled for 3 p.m. in Jonesboro, marks the Bears’ second consecutive Tuesday contest in Arkansas. Missouri State will return home for conference series matchups over the next two weekends.
The Bears have historically dominated the series, holding a 50-30 advantage over the Red Wolves, including a 23-19 record in Jonesboro. In their last visit in 2023, Missouri State won two out of three games in the series.
Power at the Plate
Missouri State’s offense has been a force under first-year head coach Joey Hawkins, particularly in the home run department. The Bears have hit 121 home runs in their last 149 games and rank 12th nationally with 339 home runs since the start of the 2022 season.
Several players have surpassed the 20-home-run mark in their MSU careers, including Zach Stewart (35), Caden Bogenpohl (23), Tyger Goellert (23), and Nick Rodriguez (21). The current lineup boasts a combined 139 career home runs.
Dominant Pitching Staff
The Bears’ pitching rotation has been a key factor in their success, leading the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) with 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings—ranking 34th in the nation. Their strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.24 also leads the conference and sits 70th nationally.
Missouri State’s pitchers have struck out at least seven batters in all but one game this season. The weekend rotation features standout arms, with Michael Yusipchuk and Jackson Holmes both earning MVC Pitcher of the Week honors. Additionally, Tyler Charlton (30 strikeouts), Yusipchuk (29), and Holmes (28) rank among the top five strikeout leaders in the MVC.
Notable Players and Recognition
Four former Freshman All-Americans are on Missouri State’s roster:
- Nick Rodriguez (Charleston Southern, 2022)
- Garrett Ferguson (MSU, 2023)
- Zach Stewart (MSU, 2023)
- Caden Bogenpohl (MSU, 2024)
D1Baseball has named Missouri State as the favorite to win the MVC title this season, with Bogenpohl selected as the preseason Player of the Year and Yusipchuk as the Freshman of the Year. The MVC coaches poll, released on March 17, also predicted the Bears to win the league, with Bogenpohl and Rodriguez earning All-MVC honors.
A New Era Under Joey Hawkins
Missouri State enters a new chapter with Joey Hawkins as head coach, marking the program’s first coaching change since 1983. Hawkins played for the Bears from 2012 to 2015 and later served as an assistant coach from 2022 to 2024 before taking over as head coach.
The program has had only three head coaches in its history:
- Bill Lowe (1964-1982) – Led the team to a 6-12 record in his first season before becoming the school’s athletic director.
- Keith Guttin (1983-2024) – Played for Michigan State under Lowe before leading the Bears for 41 years, retiring after the 2024 season. Guttin’s 1983 team finished 32-11 and led the nation with a .367 batting average.
Missouri State’s Final MVC Season
The 2025 season marks Missouri State’s 35th and final year in the Missouri Valley Conference. The university announced its move to the American Athletic Conference on May 10, 2024, and will officially join on July 1, 2025.
Missouri State has been a dominant force in MVC baseball, holding the most league wins (471) and the highest winning percentage (.581) among conference schools. The Bears have won six regular season titles and five tournament championships over 34 seasons.
As Missouri State looks to close its MVC chapter on a high note, the team remains focused on continuing its winning tradition before making the leap to the American Conference next year.
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