Jan. 12, 2016
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - With the 2016 collegiate baseball season just weeks away from commencement, Missouri State will honor its record-setting 2015 Missouri Valley Conference and NCAA Springfield Regional championship squad Wednesday (Jan. 13) evening with a championship ring ceremony during halftime of MSU's men's basketball game against Wichita State at JQH Arena.
The 2015 Bears turned in one of the more memorable seasons in program history, capturing the MVC's regular-season and postseason tournament titles as part of their 49-12 campaign. The Bears reeled off a program-record 19 straight victories as part of stretch run for the ages that saw Missouri State win 39 of 43 games, culminating with an NCAA Regional title.
As part of the late season surge, the Bears climbed all the way to No. 6 in Baseball America's College Top 25 poll, marking the program's highest-ever regular-season ranking. MSU staked claim to its fourth MVC regular-season crown with an 18-3 league mark - the best conference finish for any Valley team since 2004 - then cruised to its third Valley Tournament title with four wins in four games at the MVC Championship in Wichita. The Bears then swept the Springfield Regional field in three games after earning the No. 8 national seed in their ninth NCAA Division I Baseball Championship appearance. MSU's quest for its second trip to the College World Series came up just one victory short, as Arkansas claimed the Fayetteville Super Regional by outlasting the Bears with a 3-2 victory in the deciding game.
Individually, Missouri State's balanced lineup featured eight different players who were honored as All-MVC performers, including four who were named to major All-America squads. The Missouri State coaching staff joined the list of honorees as well after guiding the Bears to a school-record win total, with head coach Keith Guttin earning his fifth selection as the Dan Callahan MVC Coach of the Year, and pitching coach Paul Evans bringing home D1Baseball's National Assistant Coach of the Year honor.
MSU opens the 2016 campaign Feb. 19, when it kicks off a three-game series with UCA in Conway, Ark.
Missouri State season tickets are on sale now through the MSU Athletics Box Office at JQH Arena, online through MissouriStateBears.com, or by calling Duane Miller at (417) 836-8899. Renewal information for current season-ticket holders has been mailed and includes packages for lower-level reserved chairback seats for $100 (general public), $50 for Missouri State faculty and staff and $20 for students. Eight-game mini-packages will also be offered for $32 per ticket. Additionally, MSU is offering free season-long admission for up to two children (ages 12 and under) with the purchase of two 2016 season tickets.
Bears' single-game tickets for the 2016 season, which will go on-sale in February, remain priced at $5 for the general public, $2.50 for Missouri State faculty and staff, $2 for students and special rates are offered for groups of 20 or more. All children ages 12 and under not accompanied by a season-ticket holder will require a $2 ticket for admission. Students must show a valid and current BearPass Card along with a student ticket to gain entry to Hammons Field.
