Mules Set for Opening Day in Houston

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Feb. 1, 2018) - Central Missouri Baseball is back for the annual Houston Winter Invitational. The Mules will play three games in what will be their opening weekend of the 2018 season.

Opponents: St. Mary's Rattlers
                    Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas
                    Colorado School of Mines Orediggers

When: Friday-Sunday, Feb. 2-4
            St. Mary's: Friday, Feb. 2 - 6 p.m.
            Texas A&M-Kingsville - Saturday, Feb. 3 - 2 p.m.
            Colorado School of Mines: Sunday, Feb. 4 - 2 p.m.

Where: Houston, Texas - Minute Maid Park

On the air
• All of Central Missouri's games during the Houston Winter Invitational can be heard live on the Central Missouri Sports Radio Network. Friday and Sunday's games will be on 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com. Saturday's game will be on either 98.5 The Bar or 1450 KOKO, as well as warrensburgradio.com.
• Bob Jackson will be on the call with the Mules' Dugout Show approximately  25 minutes prior to first pitch.

First Pitch
• Central Missouri takes the field for the first time in 2018 at the Sixth Annual Houston Winter Invitational at Minute Maid Park.
• The Mules take on St. Mary's on Friday night at 6 p.m. They'll square off with Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday at 2 p.m. and wrap up the invitational Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. against Colorado School of Mines

Quick Hits
• Central Missouri was picked to finish second in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Central Missouri totaled 32 wins last year. The Mules have won at least 30 games in all three seasons under Coach Crookes.
• The Mules have finished with a winning record in each of the last 32 seasons. 
• Central Missouri was receiving votes in the preseason ABCA/Collegiate Baseball Poll.

The Series
• Central Missouri holds a 4-3 all-time advantage against St. Mary's. Their seven matchups are the most against any Texas school. The teams last met in 2015 as a part of Coach Crookes' first year as a head coach. Central Missouri won 8-6. 
• The Mules have had success against Texas A&M Kingsville with a 4-1 record. They have no met under Coach Crookes. Their last meeting came in 2013, a 4-1 Javelina win, 4-1, in the season opener. 
• This will be the first ever meeting between Central Missouri and Colorado School of Mines. 

The Mules
• Central Missouri went 32-18 last season with a 23-13 MIAA mark to finish in fourth place in the league standings. They dropped their only two games of the MIAA Tournament though, and fell out of the regional rankings in the final week. 
• UCM had 10 All-MIAA performers in 2017, including four name to the first team. Three of those four return for 2018: Justin Graff-Rowe, Zach Girrens, and Collin Nevil. 
• Graff-Rowe became the 81st All-American in Mules history, being named Honorable Mention. He hit .412 with a.484 on-base percentage and 75 total hits, 21 extra-base hits, and led the team with 48 runs scored. He also drove in 45 runs and stole 14 bases. 
• Girrens is the only Mule pitcher to return who made at least five starts in 2017. He pitched to a 6-0 record with a 2.42 ERA in 67 innings. He also struck out 63 and held hitters to a .188 batting average. Of his 45 hits allowed, just seven were for extra bases. 
• Nevil was the Mules best power-hitter in 2017, mashing 13 home runs and driving in 54 runs, both team highs. He hit .335 for the season and slugged .611.
• The outfield will remain pretty much intact with Graff-Rowe and Travis Able, Third Team All-MIAA returning in 2018. Erik Webb, who was a Second Team All-MIAA selection at designated hitter and sophomore Mason Janvrin could see time for the third outfield spot.
• On the infield, only Nevil returns from the 2017 squad. That group will undergo a major overhaul with new starters at second base, third base and shortstop
• The pitching staff will also be filled in by newcomers. After Girrens, Ben Kelsch will look to earn a rotation spot after starting three games last year. In the bullpen, Luke Mercer, who led the team with 20 appearances returns for 2018. 

Last time out
JOPLIN, Mo. (May 12, 2017) – Central Missouri had its run in the MIAA Tournament come to an end late on Friday night with a 4-1 loss to No. 11 Emporia State. The Mules were held to just one hit in the game, but weren't without chances as they stranded seven on the night thanks in part to six walks.
 
The Hornets (40-10) struck first with a two-run triple in the second inning. A leadoff walk and a hit by pitch, which appeared and sounded to hit the bat instead of the batter's hand, put runners at first and second with one out for Wade Hanna. He roped a triple to deep center to give ESU the lead.
 
Steven D'Amico retired 13 straight Hornets after that before a two-out infield single in the top of the sixth. He promptly got a line out to end the inning and keep it at a two-run deficit.
 
The Mules got one back in the bottom of the sixth. Three walks loaded the bases with one out and forced an ESU pitching change. Jacob Tetuan came on to get a popout for the second out before a wild pitch allowed Blake Wilfong to score, but Tetuan got a strikeout to keep Emporia State in front 2-1.
 
The Hornets got that run right back in the top of the seventh. Mack Gowing led off the inning with a triple and scored with one out on BJ Dean's bunt single. It could have been more, but Travis Able made a great running catch in the left field corner and threw back to second to double up the Hornets and end the inning at 3-1.
 
Able made another great play in the top of the eighth inning. Ryan McBroom singled to the gap in left center, but Able cut the ball off and threw a dart to second to gun down McBroom trying to stretch it into a double.
 
The Mules threatened in the bottom half, putting two on with two outs, but couldn't push any runs across.
 
ESU added a run in the top of the ninth to take a 4-1 lead. Mason Brown doubled to lead off, went to third on a failed pickoff attempt and scored on Gowing's single.
 
The Mules put one runner on with two outs in the ninth, but Hanna made a leaping catch of Jackson Schnurbusch's ball at the wall in left to end the game.
 
D'Amico (7-2) was the tough luck loser for UCM, allowing three runs on just three hits while striking out a season-high nine over 6.1 innings.
 
Tanner Cairns (8-1) earned the win for ESU, allowing just one run on one hit in 5.1 innings. He walked four and struck out two. Nathan Whitcomb picked up his 10th save of the season recording the final five outs.

The Mules must now wait until Sunday night to find out if they will receive an at-large bid to the NCAA-II Central Regional. UCM was No. 6 in this week's regional poll and the top eight in Sunday night's poll will earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Mules in non-conference action
• Central Missouri went 9-5 in non-conference games during the 2017 season
• The Mules are 27-22 overall in non-conference action during Crookes' three seasons.

Mules in MIAA play
• The Mules finished 23-13 in MIAA play last season and are 78-33 in conference play under Kyle Crookes.
• The Mules finished fourth in the regular season standings. They have won 25 overall regular season championships in program history.

The Mules at home
• The Mules went 14-4 in home games during the 2017 season.
• Central Missouri was 15-5 at home during the 2015 season and is 48-12 at home under Crookes.
• The Mules are 788-156-1 (.834) in 945 games played in 42 seasons playing home games at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
• Central Missouri will host the 2018 MIAA Baseball Championship Tournament at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field this May. 

Mules on the road
• The Mules went 12-11 on the road in 2017. 
• The Mules are 39-30 on the road under head coach Kyle Crookes.

Mules in neutral site games
• UCM went 6-3 in neutral site games in 2017, including 3-0 at the Houston Winter Invitational. 
• The Mules are 21-14 in neutral site games under Crookes.

UCM during the Crookes era
• Kyle Crookes has a 105-55 (.656) record and enters his fourth season as head coach at Central Missouri.
• In 2016, he won his first conference championship as head coach at UCM and the second title overall during his time in Warrensburg.
• During his first three seasons at the helm, 30 players have earned All-MIAA honors, including seven First Team nods. Seven players have earned All-Region honors, one All-American and two players have been selected in the MLB Draft.
• The Mules were 71-29 in Crookes' two seasons as an assistant coach and captured the 2014 MIAA Regular Season Championship. The Mules garnered five First Team All-MIAA selections and three All-America honors during his two years as an assistant.
• Crookes compiled a 292-164 overall record in eight seasons as the head coach at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College before taking over as an assistant coach at UCM.

Mules Baseball History
• The 2018 season marks the 63rd in the storied history of Mules Baseball. During that span the Mules have compiled a 1,864-741-9 (.715) record in 2,614 games played.
• The Mules have won 40 or more games 18 times, including 14 straight seasons from 1999-2012, and have won 50 or more games nine times.
• The Mules have won or shared 25 MIAA championships, captured 17 regional titles and two national championships.

Mules Baseball by the Numbers
• 28 NCAA Regional Appearances (21 of the last 23 years)
• 25 MIAA Titles (17 of the last 23)
• 21 MIAA Tournament Titles (17 of the last 23)
• 17 Regional Championships
• 15 Regionals as host site
• 14 Top Five national finishes
• 4 Third place finishes
• 1 National Runner-Up
• 2 National Championships

Mules Baseball: Winningest Team of the 2000s
• The Central Missouri baseball program has had unprecedented success in the last 25 years and has been even more impressive since the year 2000. The Mules were the winningest team in all divisions of the NCAA by victories (508) and percentage (.814, 508-116) from 2000-09. That success has continued through the 2010s.
• The Mules are 833-230 (.784) since the year 2000. An average of 46 wins per season over the last 18 years.

A Tradition of Excellence in Athletics
• Central Missouri has won a combined 213 MIAA regular season conference championships in 14 league sports to lead all schools.
• This past fall, Central Missouri women's soccer won their first NCAA Division II National Championship with a 1-1 (5-3 PK) win over Carson-Newman. 
• Last season, UCM captured three MIAA regular season titles, one MIAA Tournament crown and two NCAA Regional Championships.
• Since 1983, the tenure of Athletic Director Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 159 MIAA championships, more than any other league school.
• Central Missouri has won nine national championships during Hughes' tenure (men's and women's basketball in 1984, baseball in 1994 and 2003, women's bowling in 2003, men's basketball in 2014, women's indoor and outdoor track & field in 2015, and women's soccer in 2017) and 11 national championships overall.
• In 2016-17, Central Missouri won the inaugural MIAA's Commissioner's Cup trophy for the conference's top overall athletic department. 

A Tradition of Excellence in the Classroom
• Central Missouri had 252 student-athletes named to the 2016-17 MIAA Academic Honor Roll with grade point averages of 3.0 or higher.
• 22 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Scholar Athletes with at least a 3.5 GPA and having earned all-MIAA honors in their respective sport.
• 20 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Academic Excellence Award winners with a 4.0 GPA.
• UCM had five student-athletes earn CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in their respective sports. 
• All-time UCM is fourth in NCAA-II with 103 Academic All-Americans.
• Carly Thomas of Jennies Bowling was awarded prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships last year.

Upcoming
• Central Missouri will play at home for the first time in 2018 next week. They'll play a series against Colorado-Colorado Springs Friday, Feb. 9-11 at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.

Scouting the Opposition
St. Mary's
• St. Mary's picked up two first place votes in the Heartland Conference preseason poll. They totaled 91 points and were picked to finish fourth. 
• Two Rattlers also were picked as Preseason All-Heartland Conference performers: First Baseman Donnie Perez and Third Baseman Jacob Aguilar.
• St. Mary's finished in third place in the Heartland Conference standings a year ago, going 16-8. They dropped their only two games of the Championship Tournament, despite throwing a one-hitter in the opening round. 
• Last year, Aguilar hit .347 with three home runs and 28 RBI. He reached base at a .407 clip and scored 30 runs. He also walked 13 times and struck out just 19 times in 170 at bats. 
• Perez also hit .340 and had an on-base percentage above .400. He reached at a .403 clip while slugging eight home runs and driving in 38 runs, both of which were team bests. 
• The Rattlers will also bring back senior infielder Zach Johnson. Johnson started 33 games and hit .302. He collected 26 hits, drove in 13 runs and scored nine more. 
• St. Mary's will need to revamp their starting pitching. All three of their starters, who started at least 10 games are gone. Those spots will all need to be filled. 
• The team also lost closer Trent Rousseau, who saved eight games last year. The Rattlers pitched to a 4.98 ERA and struck out 307 batters in 401 innings pitched. 

Texas A&M-Kingsville
• Texas A&M - Kingsville enjoyed a successful season in 2017, but stumbled at the end. The Javelinas finished in second place in the Lone Star Conference with a 16-8 conference record and 31-18 overall. 
• They lost their final six games though, the last four in the regular season, and the first two of the Lone Star Conference Tournament. 
• Texas A&M - Kingsville placed seven on the Lone Star All-Conference, including three on the first team. Five out of that group will return an all three first teamers. 
• As a catcher, Christian Caudle hit .384 and reached base at a .520 clip. He drew 45 walks in addition to his 58 hits. Caudle also scored a team-best 38 runs and drove in 20 with one home run. 
• Fellow first teamer Pablo Hernandez led the Javelinas hitting .390 and drove in a team-best 43 runs. He collected 62 hits, 23 for extra bases with 21 doubles. 
• Another First Team All-Lonestar on the infield was Levi Zents. Zents locked down third base and hit .347. He also scored 38 runs and drove in 24. 
• The Javelina pitching staff had a team ERA of 4.01 with 324 strikeouts in 386.1 innings. Seth Hubert led the team making 13 starts and pitched to a 7-4 record. He earned Second Team All-Conference status with a 3.79 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 71.1 innings. 

Colorado School of Mines
• Colorado Mines finished in second place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season standings last year with a 21-15 league record and were 32-22 overall. 
• The season came to a close for the Orediggers in the RMAC Championship game. They fell 15-7 to Colorado-Mesa. They won two one-run games in the RMAC Championship Tournament. 
• Two Orediggers made the All-Conference team last season, unfortunately for them, both of those players have graduated. 
• Mikey Gangwish earned a Gold Glove from the conference from the catcher position. He is the only Oredigger to earn a 2017 post season award and return for 2018. Gangwish is also the Oredigger's top returner at the plate. He hit .331 with seven home runs and 39 RBI. Gangwish also reached base at a .371 clip, hit 16 doubles and scored 37 runs. 
• Three starters on the infield are back for 2018 in Colton Wardle, Jace Selsor and Derek Daly. Wardle and Selsor each hit over .300 and all three hit six home runs. 
• Tyler Blomster whos started 11 games and pitched to a 5-2 record is back to lead the Orediggers pitching staff. He carried a 4.45 ERA and struck out 47 batters in 56.2 innings.