We are unpacking a whirlwind weekend of postseason baseball after following the Missouri State University Bears to the NCAA Regional in Lawrence, Kansas. While it wasn’t the ending any of us in Springfield wanted to see, Joey Hawkins’ crew wrapped up a highly respectable 34-win season—the program’s best record since 2018. We sat down with Corey Riggs to break down what exactly went wrong at Hoglund Ballpark and why the Bears’ roster might look completely unrecognizable by the time they take the field next spring at Route 66 Stadium.

The Bats Go Quiet in the Kansas Breeze

One of the biggest surprises of the weekend wasn’t the pitching, but rather how quickly the Bears’ usually explosive bats went silent. Missouri State spent the entire season ranked in the top 10 nationally for home runs, but they only managed a single big fly over two regional games—a leadoff shot by Bryce Cermenelli. Corey noted that the timely hitting vanished, with the team going 3 for 10 with runners in scoring position against Arkansas, and things only getting worse against Northeastern. Coach Guttin pointed out during our commercial breaks that the heavy wind blowing in from center field kept several deep shots inside the park that would have easily been gone if we were back home in Springfield.

Logistics, Allotments, and Ticket Drama at Hoglund Ballpark

We didn’t hold back on the logistical headaches surrounding the host site. Hoglund Ballpark holds only about 4,000 seats, and local fans were rightly frustrated by the rows of empty seats visible behind home plate while Bears fans back home were begging for tickets. With Missouri State only receiving an allotment of 200 family tickets, the optics weren’t great. However, Corey noted that Kansas personnel were incredibly gracious hosts, throwing together a great “Crimson Club” area that kept fans comfortable during the regional rain delays. Still, the decision to seat the Kansas student section right next to the Arkansas parents created exactly the kind of sparks you would expect between Hog Nation and Jayhawk fans.

The Portal Opens as Draft Board Loom Large

The transfer portal opened on June 1st, and the roster rebuilding process is officially moving at a breakneck pace. Dave Van Horn is facing a massive reloading project down in Fayetteville after Arkansas’ exit, and things are changing just as rapidly here in the Ozarks. We are officially on “Portal Watch” for the Bears. Mainstays like Carter Bergman and Taeg Gollert are out of eligibility, while stars like Caden Bogenpohl, Max Knight, and Curry Sutherland are heavily eyed by MLB scouts. While Bogenpohl’s hitting metrics were down this year, his triple-digit exit velocities still have scouts drooling over his major-league swing.

A Brand New Look for Next Season

Expect a massive overhaul on the mound too. Midweek arms are already entering the portal, with Brody McNeil officially listing his name. While single-season strikeout-to-walk record-holder Ross Felder is locked in to return, the rest of the staff is a giant question mark. Between the MLB Draft and the transfer portal, outside of Logan Fyffe and shortstop Jax Ryan, we are going to see a ton of brand new faces at Route 66 Stadium next year.