Three-Game Series at Northeastern State On Deck for No. 3 Mules Baseball

Baseball | 2/28/2024 1:54:00 PM

• No. 3-ranked University of Central Missouri Mules baseball (12-3, 2-1 MIAA) is scheduled to travel to Tahlequah, Okla., for a three-game MIAA series at Northeastern State (9-7, 1-2 MIAA) March 1-3 at Rousey Field. The series opener and game two are both slated for 3 p.m. first pitches Friday, March 1, and Saturday, March 2, with the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 3. 
• The Mules are coming off a 16-9 victory over the Maryville University Saints Tuesday in St. Louis, Mo.
• Central Missouri has won 11 of its last 12 games going into Friday. 
• Through 15 games, UCM is paced at the plate by designated hitter Vance Tobol (.383 avg., 10 R, 18 H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 16 RBI, .787 SLG%, 5 BB, 2 SB), outfielders Jack Schark (.407 avg., 14 R, 22 H, 7 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, .704 SLG%, 7 BB, 7 SB), Brennen van Breusegen (.390 avg., 12 R, 16 H, 4 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, .805 SLG%, 10 BB, 3 SB) and Carter Young (.345 avg., 13 R, 20 H, 8 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 15 RBI, .724 SLG%, 9 BB, .4 SB), infielders Josh Patrick (.412 avg., 18 R, 21 H, 3 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 12 RBI, .863 SLG%, 10 BB, 7 SB) and Jacob Steele (.333 avg., 15 R, 16 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 7 BB, 6 SB) and catcher Chase Heath (.440 avg., 14 R, 11 H, 4 2B, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 1.080 SLG%, 11 BB, 2 SB).
• On the mound through 15 contests, the Mules are led by Conner Wolf (3-0, 3.22 ERA, 22.1 IP, 12 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 5 BB, 26 SO), Jonah Walker (1-1, 1.64 ERA, 11.0 IP,  5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 11 BB, 10 SO) and Bryce Taylor (0-0, 2.16 ERA, 8.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 10 SO). 
• As a team through 15 games, Central Missouri is hitting .352 while holding opponents to a .240 average. In addition, UCM has a .981 fielding percentage and 5.46 team ERA with 15 games in the books. UCM ranks first in the MIAA in hitting (.352 avg.), sixth in pitching (5.46 ERA) and first in fielding (.981 pct.). 
• Central Missouri is coming off a 2023 season that saw it post an overall record of 43-15 and a MIAA tally of 27-6. UCM captured both the MIAA Regular Season and Postseason Tournament Championships and advanced to the NCAA-II Central Region Championship game.

• Hitting streaks: Josh Patrick (7 games), Chase Heath (4 games), Cole Moore (4 games)
• Reached base safely: Josh Patrick (15 games), Carter Young (14 games), Brennen van Breusegen (14 games), Chase Heath (12 games), Brett Grupe (7 games)

• No. 3-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball hit five homers, leading it to a 16-9 win over the Maryville University Saints Tuesday, Feb. 27, at Weber Baseball Field.
• After falling behind 5-1 in the first inning, Central Missouri used the long ball to mount a ferocious rally and eventually take the lead for good with a six-run top of the sixth inning.
• Chase Heath went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, a double, and hit his third and fourth homers of the season in the game, Jack Schark went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and a double, Cole Moore was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs driven in and his first home run of 2023, Vance Tobol tallied four RBIs and belted his team-best fifth homer of the season, and Jacob Steele added his third home run of 2023, pacing the Mules offensively in the game.
• Carter Young added three hits, including two doubles, and Brennen van Breusegen three hits, including a double.
• UCM reliever Jack Kriesman (1-0) picked up the win on the mound after allowing two earned runs on two hits with one strikeout and one walk in two innings.

• Starting pitcher Conner Wolf, reliever JD McReynolds and outfielder Carter Young were all tabbed NCBWA Preseason All-Americans. 

• Central Missouri is No. 3 in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) NCAA Division II Poll released February 28. 
• The Mules were picked first in the MIAA Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll.

• The three-game series in Tahlequah against the RiverHawks will mark meetings 49-51 in the all-time series going back to 1968. UCM leads the series 35-13. Last season, Central Missouri went 3-1 against the RiverHawks, winning two of three games in Tahlequah March 4-6 and an MIAA tournament semifinal contest in Warrensburg, 8-2 in 11 innings. 

• Kyle Crookes has a 358-126 (.740) record in his 10th season as head coach at Central Missouri.
• In 2016, he won his first conference championship as head coach at UCM. He added a tournament title in 2018 and his second regular season championship in 2019. The 2021 season brought Crookes his third MIAA regular season and tournament championship, and the 2022 season marked Crookes's fourth regular season and tournament titles. UCM's 2023 regular season and tournament titles were the fifth with Crookes as the skipper.
• Crookes is up to 10 MIAA Championships, five regular season and five tournament.
• He also has three regional championships to his credit in 2016, 2019 and 2021.
• During his six+ seasons at the helm, 89 players have earned All-MIAA honors, including 26 First Team nods and Players of the Year in Erik Webb in 2019, Dusty Stroup in 2021 and Brennen van Breusegen in 2022. Twenty-three players have earned All-Region honors, 10 All-American and five 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.

• The 2024 season marks the 68th in the storied history of Mules Baseball. During that span the Mules have compiled a 2,116-812-9 record in 2,937 games played.
• The Mules have won 40 or more games 22 times, including 14 straight seasons from 1999-2012, and have won 50 or more games nine times.
• The Mules have won or shared 29 MIAA regular season championships, 16 MIAA tournament championships, captured 19 regional titles and two national championships.

• 33 NCAA Regional Appearances (25 of the last 28 years)
• 29 MIAA Regular Season Titles (20 of the last 28)
• 16 MIAA Tournament Titles
• 19 Regional Championships
• 19 Regionals as host site
• 16 Top Five national finishes
• 5 Third place finishes
• 2 National Runners Up finishes
• 2 National Championships

• Central Missouri totaled 43 wins in 2023. The Mules have won at least 30 games in all nine full seasons under Coach Crookes. They won 20 of 23 games in 2020 before the season was cut short.
• The team made their 19th trip to the NCAA-II World Series in 2021.
• The Mules have finished with a winning record in each of the last 36 seasons.
• The Mules have won back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back MIAA Tournament Championships (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023).

• The Mules travel to Springfield, Mo., for a midweek game at Drury Tuesday, March 5, at 3 p.m. at Mark Worley Field at Meador Park.