TUCSON, Ariz. – Coming off their second NCAA Regional title in three seasons, the Missouri State Bears will enter the 2018 campaign as the No. 22 team in the Collegiate Baseball's Fabulous 40 NCAA Division I preseason poll, which was announced Tuesday.

Missouri State, which opens the new season Feb. 16 against Texas Southern as part of the Cardinal Classic in Beaumont, Texas, was joined in the poll by fellow Missouri Valley Conference member DBU, which drew the No. 11 position in the publication's preseason poll after claiming its second consecutive Valley Tournament title as part of a 42-21 campaign last spring.

MSU is coming off the winningest three-year period in program history after claiming 130 victories since the start of the 2015 season. The Bears, who finished with a 43-20 overall record after capturing the Fayetteville Regional crown to advance to NCAA Super Regional play for the third time, will welcome back 18 letterwinners, including junior shortstop Jeremy Eierman and senior reliever Jake Fromson, who were named preseason All-Americans by Collegiate Baseball on Monday. 

The Collegiate Baseball poll is the oldest college baseball poll, dating back to the 1958 season. In addition to DBU, three other 2018 Bear opponents cracked the poll, led by No. 2 Oregon State, which will pay Hammons Field a visit for a three-game series in mid-April. After dropping a hard-fought Regional battle with the Bears in June, Arkansas garnered the No. 3 spot in the poll, while Oklahoma State placed 27th. Five additional clubs on MSU's schedule received votes, including MVC foes Bradley and Indiana State, giving the Bears a total of 18 regular-season contests in 2018 against teams either ranked or receiving votes in the poll.

Season tickets for the 2018 season are on sale now through the Missouri State Athletics box office 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 2018 season tickets. The Bears will also offer a '6-Pack Special' for the first time this spring. Purchase six or more season tickets and receive a 25-percent discount, making the ticket price just $75 per season ticket.

Bears' single-game tickets, which will also 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.

For additional season ticket information or to place your order in person, visit the Old Missouri Bank Ticket Window 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.