Mules Wrap Up Eight-Game Road Trip at Rockhurst

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (March 12, 2018) - No. 7 Central Missouri Mules Baseball closes out their eight-game road trip with in-state match. The Mules are 6-1 in in their seven games and winners of six straight. They will look to finish 7-1 during their trip as they take on Rockhurst.

Opponent: Rockhurst Hawks (4-6, 0-0 GLVC)

When: Tuesday, March 13, 2p.m.

Where: Kansas City, Mo. - Loyola Park

First Pitch
• Central Missouri picked up its sixth straight win after sweeping its three-game series at Fort Hays State this past weekend. 
• The Mules wrap up their eight-game road stint with a midweek tilt at Rockhurst. 
• With the series sweep at Fort Hays State, UCM is now winners in 15 of its last 16 games, including six straight.
• This will be the third midweek game for the Mules this season. It is their second Tuesday game of the year.

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. 
• The Mules are 6-1 in true road games in 2018. They were 12-11 on the road in 2017. 

The Series
• Central Missouri has dominated its series Rockhurst with a 32-8 record in 40 meetings all-time. Since the 2000 season, the Mules are 17-4 against the Hawks.
• Coach Crookes has faced the Hawks just two times in his three seasons as head coach and has a 1-1 record against them. The Mules took down the Hawks 8-2 in Warrensburg last season. The two teams last met in 2015, with the Hawks coming out on top 11-10 in 12 innings. 

Rockhurst
• Rockhurst enters the game with a 4-6 overall record and has yet to play in GLVC game this season. The Hawks are currently on a two-game winning streak.
• The Hawks are coming competition at the Sunshine State Games in Kissimmee, Fla. They went 3-4 with wins over Seton Hill (Pa.), Grand Valley State and Mansfield.
• Rockhurst's game against Central Missouri will be its first home contest of the 2018 season. The Hawks went 7-11 at home during their 2017 campaign.
• The Hawks are the top hitting team in the GLVC with a .318 team batting average. They are just 11th in home runs with three. They also lead the league in on base percentage at .397.
• They are fifth in the GLVC in runs scored with 85, while their 115 hits are tied for seventh.
• Alex Van Pelt leads the GLVC in batting average at .515 and has the second most doubles with seven. Teammate Tommy Kraus is second in the league at .500. Kraus also leads the league in on base percentage at .600.
• Two Hawks are batting over .400. Corbin Hare is batting .440, which is fourth in the GLVC while Colby Smith is at .417 for his average. 
• Henry Weiler is just under .400 with batting average of .394. Nic Mertes (.360), Cameron Dean (.333), Jeremy Luft (.321) and Nathan Mark (.304) are all batting over .300.
• On the mound, the Hawks have the second worst ERA in the GLVC at 7.75. They've given up 128 hits and have allowed six home runs.
• Pitcher Brook Collins has the team's best ERA at 2.61 and is tied for second in strikeouts with 12. He 1-1 on the year in three appearances, but has yet to start a game. Jack Eisenbarger, Griffin Fletcher and Jacob Thigpen are all 1-0 on the year for the Hawks.
• Eisenbarger leads the team in strikeouts with 13 in 8.0 innings pitched and has a 4.50 ERA. Fletcher has fanned seven batters and has the least amount walks with two. Thigpen has the most innings pitched under his belt at 13.0. He is tied for second most strikeouts with Collins at 12. He's also allowed the most hits (19) and runs (12).
• Rockhurst sports a .956 fielding percentage which is eighth in the GLVC and they have the third least amount of errors with 16. They have turned six double plays this season which is 11th in the league.

The Mules
• Central Missouri is 16-3 overall with 6-1 mark in MIAA play. UCM is winners in 15 of its last 16 games, including six straight wins.
• The Mules claimed their third straight MIAA series with sweep of Fort Hays State. The Mules scored 10-plus runs in every game as they won 13-8, 12-6 and 11-6 over the Tigers.
• Central Missouri continues to hit the ball extremely. They've scored at least 10 runs in three straight games, including four of its last five games. Their 36 runs scored against FHSU are the most runs they have scored in a three game series against one opponent this season.
• As a team, the Mules have a .329 batting average, which is second in the MIAA. UCM is holding teams to a .332 on base percentage and is averaging almost nine runs per game at 8.52. 
• The Mules bullpen has been outstanding this season. While Mules pitchers have a 4.36 ERA this season to sit fourth in the MIAA, the bullpen ERA is 3.17. Luke Mercer has four saves in the Mules 16 wins and has 15 strikeouts in 10.0 innings. Coby Seiz has gotten the most work out of the pen. He's thrown 14.0 innings giving up just three earned runs and 11 hits with 10 strikeouts and two saves. Ross Juliana has been solid as well with a 3-0 record out of the bullpen. He's also fanned 13 batters in 12.0 innings pitched and allowed just one run. 
• Much of the Mules success can be attributed to the bottom of the lineup. Harrison Schnurbusch who has batted seventh in nine games this season, is hitting .324 and has scored 12 runs. The combination of Dalton Dull and Donovan Ditto has 18 hits from the No. 9 spot in the lineup. In 26 at bats overall, Dull is hitting .462 with a .500 on base percentage. 
• At the top of the order, Mason Janvrin and Erik Webb have a combined 48 hits and 28 RBI. Both have multiple home runs on the year. Webb has 14 extra base hits and a team-high 21 RBI.
• In 163 innings pitched, Mules pitchers are giving up just one hit per inning. Opponents are hitting just .244 off of UCM pitchers, but have reached base in other ways with 63 walks and have reached on 27 errors and 21 hit batsmen.
• UCM pitchers have also done well at holding runners on base. The Mules have given up just six stolen bases in 19 games on 13 attempts and have picked a runner off.
• On the flip side, the Mules have stolen 46 bases in 63 attempts themselves. Janvrin has a team-best 15 stolen bases while Webb is second with eight. Harrison Schnurbusch has added seven.
• Five Mules this season are hitting at least .300. Travis Able (.424) and Erik Webb (.419) are hitting over .400. Janvrin is at .324, while Schnurbusch is hitting .318. Collin Nevil is at .323 and Justin Graff-Rowe is just under .300 with a .294 batting average. Nevil is second on the team in RBI with 20, with Janvrin right behind him at 17. Able (14), Schnurbusch (11) Payne McCutcheon (12) and Graff-Rowe (10) each have at least 10 RBI.
• The Mules have hit 21 home runs from 10 different players. Nevil, Webb, Janvrin, McCutcheon and Fairchild have all slugged at least two home runs this season. 

Last Time Out
HAYS, Kan. (March 11, 2018) - For the third straight game, No. 7 Central Missouri Mules Baseball put up at least 10 runs as they swept their MIAA series against Fort Hays State. The Mules downed the Tigers 11-6 in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Larks Park to win their sixth straight. Win the win, UCM is now 16-3 overall and 8-1 in MIAA play.

Play-by-Play
• For the third straight game the Mules struck first. Erik Webb and Travis Able got on base with a double and being walked, respectively. Ryan Toliver brought both home with a two RBI double to left center.
• The Tigers (9-11, 1-8 MIAA) tied the game in the bottom of the first with a two run homer from Dayton Pomeroy to left field. 
• UCM wasted little time responding. Harrision Schnurbusch was walked to start the inning and immediately stole second. Payne McCutcheon gave UCM the lead back, 4-2, with a two run home run to right field.
• The Mules held strong on defense holding the Tigers scoreless from the second to the fourth inning. They added a run in the third and the fourth to lead the Tigers by four.
• Run No. 5 came in the third inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, the Tigers gave up the run on a wild pitch allowing Toliver to score before they escaped the jam.
• UCM made it a 6-2 lead thanks to an RBI double down the left field line from Able that brought home Mason Janvrin. Janvrin got on base with a double to center field and got to third on a wild pitch.
• The Tigers tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring four runs on five hits. It was all the offense they had left as the Mules held them scoreless the rest of the way through.
• Four straight singles help FHSU score it's first run of the fifth. With the bases loaded, FHSU got its next three runs thanks in part to a fielder's choice, a single and a wild pitch in that order.
• The 6-6 tie did not last long as they Mules added two runs in the top of the sixth to go back up by two runs. Janvrin got the first run with an RBI single to right field to score Michael Bainbridge.
• Janvrin got to third on back-to-back wild pitches from FHSU. After the Tigers walked Able, a third wild pitch scored Janvrin and gave the Mules an 8-6 lead.
• UCM added two more insurance runs in the top of the top of the seventh. Janvrin got his second RBI with a single down the right field line to plate home Donovan Ditto. 
• Janvrin then made it home on three straight wild pitches from FHSU to give UCM the final lead at 11-6. 
• Jonathan Sprinkle and Luke Mercer came in the eighth and ninth inning, respectively. They struck out three batters combined, with two ground outs and a fly out to end the game.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Janvrin led the way going 2-3 on the day, with three runs scored and two RBI. 
• Toliver finished 1-3 on the afternoon, with two RBI and a run scored.
• McCutcheon collected one hit in three at bats. His lone hit was good for two RBI and he had a run scored.
• Able went 1-3, with a run scored and an RBI.
• Ross Juliana grabbed the win on the hill to improve to 3-0. He struck out a season-high seven batters in 3.0 innings pitched and allowed just two hits.

For the Tigers
• Pomeroy went 2-4, with three RBI and a run scored to lead FHSU.
• Dawson finished 3-4, with a run scored.
• Clayton Basgall totaled two hits in five at bats and had an RBI.
• Tanner Smith suffered the loss on the hill to fall to 1-3. He allowed four runs, all earned, and one hit, while walking four batters. He also had three wild pitches.

News and Notes
• The Mules are now 38-13 all-time against the Tigers after sweeping the series. Under Kyle Crookes, they are 13-3 now and winners of the last six match-ups.
• UCM 36 runs scored against FHSU are the most runs the team has scored in a three game series against one opponent this season.
• The Mules are 6-1 in their eight game road trip, including winners of six straight.
• UCM has now scored at least 10 runs in eight games this season including four of its last five games.
• The Mules entered the weekend with just two guys with multiple home runs in Collin Nevil and Webb. They now have five as John Fairchild, Janvrin and McCutcheon have all joined the mix. Webb leads the way with five homers.

Up Next
• The Mules wrap up their eight game road trip against in-state foe Rockhurst. The Mules will take on the Hawks Tuesday, March 13, with the opening pitch set for 2 p.m. at Loyola Park in Kansas City.

Mules in the Polls
• The Mules moved up 10 spots to No. 7 in the latest NCBWA National Poll. They were No. 17 last week.
• Central Missouri checked in at No. 28 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II Poll . UCM was receiving votes in the preseason poll. 
• The Mules have been ranked in the last two NCBWA polls after starting the season unranked.

Mules in Non-Conference Action
• Central Missouri went 9-5 in non-conference games during the 2017 season
• The Mules are 35-24 overall in non-conference action during Crookes' three seasons.
• UCM has started 8-2 in nonconference games. Their next scheduled nonconference game is March 13th on the road at Rockhurst.

Mules in MIAA Play
• The Mules finished 23-13 in MIAA play last season and are 86-34 in conference play under Kyle Crookes.
• The Mules finished fourth in the regular season standings in 2017. They have won 25 overall regular season championships in program history.
• Central Missouri is 8-1 in conference play after sweeping Fort Hays State this past weekend.

Mules at Home
• The Mules went 14-4 in home games during the 2017 season and have started out 9-0 in 2018. 
• Central Missouri was 15-5 at home during the 2015 season and is 57-12 at home under Crookes.
• The Mules are 797-156-1 (.836) in 954 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 45-31 on the road under head coach Kyle Crookes.
• Central Missouri is 6-1 in true road games this season after sweeping Fort Hays State this past weekend. 

Mules in Neutral Site Games
• UCM has started 1-2 in neutral site games following the Houston Winter Invitational. 
• The Mules are 22-16 in neutral site games under Crookes.
• Central Missouri does not have a scheduled neutral site game for the rest of the regular season. 

UCM During the Crookes Era
• Kyle Crookes has a 121-58 (.676) record now in 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 1,880-744-9 (.716) record in 2,633 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 24 years)
• 25 MIAA Titles (17 of the last 24)
• 21 MIAA Tournament Titles (17 of the last 24)
• 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 849-233 (.785) 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 214 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. 
• Central Missouri Jennies Basketball captured their 11th MIAA regular season championship this season. 
• 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 160 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
• The Mules return home March 16-18 for a three-game series against MIAA foe Pittsburg State. Game one opening pitch is set for 2 p.m. on Friday, March 16 at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.