From Bullpen to Big Bats: Missouri State Means Business
The Missouri State Bears baseball aren’t easing into the season… they’re attacking it! Head Coach Joey Hawkins joined The Starting Lineup to break down a team identity built on being “tight, fighting, confident, and experienced.” As the Bears gear up for a weather-adjusted home series against Little Rock, including a strategic double-header, Hawkins made one thing clear: this group isn’t chasing moral victories. They’re here to handle business.
🎧 Catch the full conversation with Coach Hawkins here:
A big reason why? The bullpen. Hawkins calls it the team’s “X-factor,” and early returns back that up. With depth, versatility, and defined roles that can shift as the season evolves, Missouri State has the arms to bridge games and protect leads. Offensively, the Bears are off to a strong start, hitting .287 as a team, with expectations that the power numbers will rise as the weather warms. The lineup is showing maturity at the plate, disciplined, aggressive in the right spots, and relentless.
Individually, leaders are emerging. Logan Fife’s versatility in the field, Caden Bogenpohl’s composure and plate discipline, Curry Sutherland’s presence and pop, and transfer Bobby Atkinson’s upside all point to a roster built for longevity. The philosophy? “One game at a time.” A daily “1-0” mindset focused on growth across a four-month grind. It’s depth. It’s drive. And if early signs hold, it might just turn into dominance.
