SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Missouri State baseball will host its 12th annual First Pitch and Reunion Night on Saturday, Feb. 1, with former Bears and big league reliever Brad Zielger set to return to Springfield as the featured guest speaker to help the Bears usher in the 2020 season, head coach Keith Guttin announced Tuesday.

The event will take place at the Bill Rowe Training Facility at Hammons Field at 5:30 p.m., to help the Bears kick off the 2020 season, which opens Feb. 14, when MSU opens a three-game series with Central Arkansas in Conway, Ark. Highlighting the evening's festivities will be a program featuring Ziegler, an All-American pitcher for the Bears' 2003 College World Series team who went on to enjoy an 11-year Major League Baseball career with four different clubs. The 2020 Bears will be on hand to sign autographs and distribute schedule cards, and current and former Missouri State baseball alumni who have gone on to professional careers will also be in attendance. Additionally, silent and live auctions featuring sporting and non-sporting memorabilia and other giveaways will be conducted. A menu of ballpark food and soft drinks will be provided for all in attendance.

All 2020 Bears Baseball season-ticket holders will be entitled to the same number of complementary tickets to this year's First Pitch event. Individual tickets for the event are on sale now for $20 each and are available through the Missouri State Baseball office by calling (417) 836-4497 or emailing KeithGuttin@MissouriState.edu. Payment will be accepted by cash or check made payable to MSU Baseball.

Ziegler was the mound ace of the Bears' lone Division I College World Series club in 2003, racking up a program single-season record 12 wins to capture both MVC Pitcher of the Year and ABCA All-America (third-team) laurels. A right-hander from Odessa, Mo., he concluded his four-year career as MSU's all-time leader in innings pitched (365.0), games started (49), strikeouts (330) and victories (32), picking up first-team All-MVC honors in each of his final two collegiate seasons.

A 2017 Missouri State Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Ziegler went on to become the 11th Bear to reach the big leagues when he was called up by Oakland in 2008, and proceeded to set an American League record for consecutive scoreless innings to start a major league career (39). He would make 739 total big league appearances, logging 105 saves and a career 2.75 ERA before retiring after the 2018 season.

Renewal information for current season-ticket holders has been mailed and include 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 2020 season tickets. The Bears will also offer a '6-Pack Special' again this spring. Purchase six or more season tickets and receive a 25-percent discount, making the ticket price just $75 per season ticket.

Seating at Hammons Field will once again feature reserved tickets in the first 10 rows of the lower grandstand, while rows 11-24 will be sold as general admission seating for all Missouri State home games.

Bears' single-game tickets for the 2020 season, which will also go on-sale in February, will be priced at $6 for the general public, $3 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.

For additional season ticket information or to place your order in person, visit the Old Missouri Bank Box Office at JQH Arena during normal box office hours, call (417) 836-7678 or (888) 476-7849 (toll-free). Requests may also be placed online through MissouriStateBears.com, or by calling Duane Miller at (417) 836-8899.