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Why Jake Burger, Nolan Gorman say Joey Hawkins is a 'perfect fit' as Missouri State's hitting coach

Before playing in his first game in a Missouri State baseball uniform in Nacogdoches, Texas, freshman Jake Burger was nervous.

The highly-touted third baseman was coming off a standout high school baseball career at Christian Brothers in St. Louis, but being a starting infielder for the 2015 Missouri State baseball team with big expectations was going to be a different challenge.

Burger's phone buzzed. He received a text from Joey Hawkins — the Bears' starting shortstop and a team captain.

"Dude, you're a stud," the message read. "There's no need to have any nerves going into this game.