Game 28: No. 2 Central Missouri (23-4, 11-2 MIAA) vs. Fort Hays State (18-9, 6-7 MIAA)
Friday, March 22 | 3 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field)
Radio: 98.5 The BAR (Bob Jackson, play-by-play)
Live Video |
Live Stats |
Live Audio
Game 29: No. 2 Central Missouri vs. Fort Hays State
Saturday, March 23 | Noon | Warrensburg, Mo. (Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field)
Radio: 98.5 The BAR (Bob Jackson, play-by-play)
Live Video |
Live Stats |
Live Audio
Game 30: No. 2 Central Missouri vs. Fort Hays State
Sunday, March 24 | 1 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field)
Radio: 98.5 The BAR (Bob Jackson, play-by-play)
Live Video |
Live Stats |
Live Audio
2024 UCM Stats (XML) |
NCBWA Poll |
2024 UCM Roster |
Record Book
First Pitch
- No. 2-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball (23-4, 11-2 MIAA) is scheduled to host Fort Hays State (18-9, 6-7 MIAA) in a three-game MIAA series March 22-24 at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field in Warrensburg. The series opener is slated for 3 p.m. Friday, March 22, with game two at noon Saturday, March 23, at the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 24.
- The Mules are coming off a 10-6 victory over the Quincy Hawks in a midweek game Tuesday in Warrensburg.
- Friday's 3 p.m. series opener is Campus Cupboard Day at the ballpark. All fans who donate either three (3) non-perishable or can good food items will receive FREE admission to the game. All donations and proceeds will go towards the University Campus Cupboard.
- Through 27 games, UCM is paced at the plate by designated hitter Vance Tobol (.396 avg., 25 R, 36 H, 6 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 35 RBI, .758 SLG%, 9 BB, 9 SB), outfielders Jack Schark (.333 avg., 23 R, 30 H, 9 2B, 5 HR, 22 RBI, .600 SLG%, 14 BB, 7 SB), Brennen van Breusegen (.434 avg., 29 R, 36 H, 6 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 28 RBI, .807 SLG%, 21 BB, 9 SB) and Carter Young (.376 avg., 34 R, 38 H, 11 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 22 RBI, .683 SLG%, 25 BB, 11 SB), infielders Josh Patrick (.365 avg., 32 R, 31 H, 3 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 17 RBI, .671 SLG%, 20 BB, 11 SB), Jacob Steele (.316 avg., 30 R, 30 H, 5 2B, 6 HR, 27 RBI, 14 BB, 10 SB), Cole Moore (.345 avg., 24 R, 29 H, 7 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 9 BB, 6 SB) and Max Holy (.345 avg., 34 R, 29 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 32 RBI, .643 SLG%, 15 BB, 14 SB) and catcher Chase Heath (.434 avg., 24 R, 23 H, 6 2B, 7 HR, 26 RBI, .943 SLG%, 15 BB, 4 SB).
- On the mound through 27 contests, the Mules are led by Conner Wolf (5-0, 3.00 ERA, 42.0 IP, 25 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 7 BB, 38 SO) and JD McReynolds (2-1, 3.27 ERA, 11.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 8 BB, 20 SO).
- As a team through 27 games, Central Missouri is hitting .364 while holding opponents to a .264 average. In addition, UCM has a .984 fielding percentage and 5.85 team ERA with 27 games in the books. UCM ranks first in the MIAA in hitting (.364 avg.), sixth in pitching (5.85 ERA) and first in fielding (.984 pct.).
Notable Streaks
National Leaders
- Through 27 games, the Mules lead all of NCAA-II in batting average (.364), fielding percentage (.984), hits (329), homers (57) and slugging percentage (.652).
Last Time Out: Wilcox, No. 3 Mules Ground Hawks Tuesday, 10-6
- Chase Wilcox homered twice as the No. 3-ranked Central Missouri Mules posted a 10-6 win over the Quincy Hawks in a midweek non-conference game Tuesday, March 19, at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
- Wilcox went 3-for-5 on the day with four RBIs, including belting the first two home runs of his collegiate career, while Max Holy was 2-for-3 with a triple. Carter Young (double) and Vance Tobol (triple also had extra-base hits in the game, rounding out the UCM leaders at the plate.
- Wilcox recorded the first homer of his collegiate career on a solo shot to left field in the first inning before crushing a two-run round-tripper down the left field line in the sixth.
- UCM reliever Jericho Badwan (1-0) picked up the win on the mound after throwing a third of an inning and allowing no earned runs on no hits.
Weekly Honors for van Breusegen
- Brennen van Breusegen was named the MIAA Hitter of the Week for his performance on the baseball diamond during the week of March 11-17, it was announced Monday, March 18.
- Van Breusegen hit an impressive .667 with 10 hits, six runs, one double, two home runs, eight RBIs, three walks, three stolen bases and just one strikeout in 15 at bats, helping the No. 3-ranked Mules go 3-1 last week, including a MIAA series win at Washburn March 15-17. In addition, he posted a 1.133 slugging percentage and .722 on-base percentage on the week.
- Van Breusegen went 4-for-5 with four RBIs, a double and home run in the Mules' 16-4, game two win at Washburn Saturday, March 16 and was 3-for-3 with a home run and three runs batted in in game three vs. the Ichabods Sunday, March 17.
Preseason Honors
Mules in the Rankings
- Central Missouri is No. 2 in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) NCAA Division II Poll released March 20. The number two ranking is the highest UCM baseball has been ranked since being number one in 2003 -- the year the Mules captured their second-ever national championship.
- The Mules were picked first in the MIAA Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Series History
- The three-game series against Fort Hays State will mark meetings 66-68 in the all-time series dating back to 1995. UCM leads the series, 52-13. Last season, the Mules swept a three-game series with the Tigers in Warrensburg, winning 9-1, 11-6 and 13-11.
UCM During the Crookes Era
- Kyle Crookes has a 369-127 (.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 2,127-813-9 record in 2,949 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
- The Mules welcome Missouri Western to Warrensburg for a midweek MIAA contest Tuesday, March 26, at 3 p.m.
