Baseball Bears to Begin NCAA Play at Lawrence Regional
May 25, 2026 | Baseball
SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State will start its NCAA Tournament journey in Lawrence, Kan. with a first-round matchup against Arkansas at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 29 at Hoglund Ballpark.
The Bears (34-19) are making their 13th NCAA Division I Regional appearance and first since 2022, earning an at-large bid for the eighth time in program history on the strength of a No. 23 RPI rating, 44th-ranked overall schedule and 16th-ranked non-conference schedule while finishing third with a 20-10 record in their first Conference USA season.
Missouri State has regional victories to its credit in 2003, 2015 and 2017, and advanced to the College World Series in 2003.
Mo State split a home-and home series with Arkansas this season, winning 15-14 in Springfield and losing 12-4 in Fayetteville. No. 15 national seed Kansas and Northeastern round out the regional. The Bears are 33-32 all-time against the Jayhawks, last playing in 2023, and have never met the Huskies on the diamond.
Tickets for fans wishing to cheer on the Bears in Lawrence will become available on Wednesday, May 27 at 10 a.m. Central via the Kansas Box Office. Tickets are expected to sell out fast. For more information on the Lawrence Regional, click here.
