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Third-Ranked Mules Head to Topeka for Three-Game MIAA Series at Washburn March 15-17

Game 24: No. 3 Central Missouri (20-3, 9-1 MIAA) at Washburn (13-8, 8-2 MIAA)
Friday, March 15 | 4 p.m. | Topeka, Kan. (Falley Field)
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Game 25: No. 3 Central Missouri at Washburn
Saturday, March 16 | 2 p.m. | Topeka, Kan. (Falley Field)
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Game 26: No. 3 Central Missouri at Washburn
Sunday, March 17 | 1 p.m. | Topeka, Kan. (Falley Field)
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2024 UCM Stats (XML) | NCBWA Poll | 2024 UCM Roster | Record Book
First Pitch
  • Third-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball (20-3, 9-1 MIAA) is scheduled to travel to Topeka, Kan., for a three-game MIAA series at Washburn (13-8, 8-2 MIAA) March 15-17 at Falley Field. Game one is slated for Friday, March 15, at 4 p.m., with game two at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16, and the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 17. 
  • The Mules are coming off an 8-4 win at Missouri Western in a midweek MIAA contest Tuesday in St. Joseph, Mo.
  • Central Missouri has won nine straight games and 19 of its last 20 contests going into the series at Washburn. 
  • Through 23 games, UCM is paced at the plate by designated hitter Vance Tobol (.408 avg., 19 R, 31 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 29 RBI, .697 SLG%, 7 BB, 9 SB), outfielders Jack Schark (.363 avg., 23 R, 29 H, 9 2B, 5 HR, 22 RBI, .663 SLG%, 14 BB, 7 SB), Brennen van Breusegen (.386 avg., 22 R, 27 H, 5 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 19 RBI, .729 SLG%, 17 BB, 6 SB) and Carter Young (.379 avg., 27 R, 33 H, 8 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 17 RBI, .632 SLG%, 20 BB, .10 SB), infielders Josh Patrick (.387 avg., 28 R, 29 H, 3 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 16 RBI, .693 SLG%, 17 BB, 11 SB), Jacob Steele (.329 avg., 27 R, 26 H, 5 2B, 6 HR, 25 RBI, .620 SLG%, 13 BB, 9 SB), Cole Moore (.378 avg., 23 R, 28 H, 7 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 22 RBI, .622 SLG%, 6 BB, 5 SB) and Max Holy (.342 avg., 28 R, 25 H, 4 2B, 5 HR, 26 RBI, .603 SLG%, 10 BB, 12 SB) and catcher Chase Heath (.457 avg., 22 R, 21 H, 5 2B, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 1.022 SLG%, 14 BB, 3 SB).
  • On the mound through 23 contests, the Mules are led by Conner Wolf (5-0, 2.31 ERA, 35.0 IP, 17 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 6 BB, 33 SO) and Bryce Taylor (2-0, 3.94 ERA, 16.0 IP, 17 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 6 BB, 16 SO). 
  • As a team through 23 games, Central Missouri is hitting .375 while holding opponents to a .256 average. In addition, UCM has a .985 fielding percentage and 5.74 team ERA with 23 games in the books. UCM ranks first in the MIAA in hitting (.375 avg.), fifth in pitching (5.74 ERA) and first in fielding (.985 pct.). 
Notable Streaks National Leaders
  • Through 23 games, the Mules lead all of NCAA-II in batting average (.375), fielding percentage (.985), hits (291), homers (47) and slugging percentage (.656).
  • Chase Heath is second in the country in slugging percentage (.1.022).
Have a Week, Max!
  • Max Holy hit .529 with 13 RBIs in UCM's four games last week. He had nine hits in 17 at bats, including three doubles and two homers. In the Mules 13-12, game two win over Northwest Missouri March 9, he went 3-for-5 with a career-best seven RBIs and hit the go-ahead, two-run home run for Central Missouri in the bottom of the eighth inning. 
Wolf on a Roll
  • Starting pitcher Conner Wolf tossed his third complete-game of the season in UCM's 14-0, seven-inning win over Northwest Missouri March 8, allowing no earned runs on just three hits with three strikeouts and only one walk on 73 pitches. Wolf is 5-0 on the season with a 2.31 ERA in 35 innings pitched. 
Heath Heating Up
  • Catcher Chase Heath has a sizzling 1.022 slugging percentage to go along with a .457 batting average in 20 games this season. He leads the team with seven homers this season. 
Last Time Out: No. 3 Mules Win Ninth Straight Game, Turn Back Missouri Western Tuesday, 8-4
  • No. 3-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball increased its winning streak to nine games with an 8-4 victory over the Missouri Western Griffons in a MIAA game Tuesday, March 12, at Griffon Baseball Field.
  • Central Missouri did the bulk of its damage early, scoring six runs in the top of the first inning to jump out to a 6-0 lead. Vance Tobol hit a two-run double to right field for the opening runs of the game before Cole Moore hit a sacrifice fly that scored Josh Patrick for a 3-0 lead. Jacob Steele belted his sixth home run of the season – a two-run homer to centerfield – to build UCM's advantage to 5-0, and Chase Heath smacked an RBI single to left field for the sixth and final run of the frame.
  • Moore went 3-for-4 with two doubles, while Steele, Heath, and Brennen van Breusegen all had two hits in the contest, pacing the Mules at the plate.
  • Starting pitcher Jack Kriesman (2-0) earned the win on the mound for UCM, allowing just one earned run on five hits with two strikeouts and zero walks in five innings of work.
Preseason Honors Mules in the Rankings
  • Central Missouri is No. 3 in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) NCAA Division II Poll released March 13. 
  • The Mules were picked first in the MIAA Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Series History
  • The three-game series at Washburn will mark 123-125 in the all-time series going back to 1983. UCM leads the series, 95-27. Last season, Central Missouri won two of three games against the Ichabods in Warrensburg, winning game one, 21-10, dropping game two, 12-9, and winning the series finale, 13-8. 
UCM During the Crookes Era
  • Kyle Crookes has a 366-126 (.744) 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.
Mules Baseball History
  • The 2024 season marks the 68th in the storied history of Mules Baseball. During that span the Mules have compiled a 2,124-812-9 record in 2,945 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.
Mules Baseball by the Numbers
  • 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
Quick Hits
  • 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).
Up Next
  • UCM returns home to Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field for a midweek, non-conference game vs. Quincy Tuesday, March 19, at 2 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Brennen van Breusegen

#48 Brennen van Breusegen

OF
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Chase Heath

#10 Chase Heath

C
5' 10"
Junior
R/R
Max Holy

#7 Max Holy

INF
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
JD McReynolds

#47 JD McReynolds

RHP
6' 4"
Junior
L/R
Cole Moore

#11 Cole Moore

INF
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
L/R
Jack Schark

#1 Jack Schark

INF
5' 10"
Junior
R/R
Jacob Steele

#8 Jacob Steele

INF
6' 2"
Junior
R/R
Vance Tobol

#22 Vance Tobol

OF
6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Brennen van Breusegen

#48 Brennen van Breusegen

OF
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
Conner Wolf

#36 Conner Wolf

RHP
6' 3"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Brennen van Breusegen

#48 Brennen van Breusegen

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
OF
Chase Heath

#10 Chase Heath

5' 10"
Junior
R/R
C
Max Holy

#7 Max Holy

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
INF
JD McReynolds

#47 JD McReynolds

6' 4"
Junior
L/R
RHP
Cole Moore

#11 Cole Moore

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
L/R
INF
Jack Schark

#1 Jack Schark

5' 10"
Junior
R/R
INF
Jacob Steele

#8 Jacob Steele

6' 2"
Junior
R/R
INF
Vance Tobol

#22 Vance Tobol

6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
OF
Brennen van Breusegen

#48 Brennen van Breusegen

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
OF
Conner Wolf

#36 Conner Wolf

6' 3"
Junior
R/R
RHP