Chase Wilcox
Andrew Mather Photography

Baseball

Midweek MIAA Contest Tuesday vs. Missouri Western Up Next for No. 2 Mules Baseball

Game 31: No. 2 Central Missouri (26-4, 14-2 MIAA) vs. Missouri Western (14-14, 6-10 MIAA)
Tuesday, March 26 | 3 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field)
Radio: 98.5 The BAR (Bob Jackson, play-by-play)
**Social Media Day**
Live Video | Live Stats | Live Audio

2024 UCM Stats (XML) | NCBWA Poll | 2024 UCM Roster | Record Book
First Pitch
  • Second-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball (26-4, 14-2 MIAA) is set to host the Missouri Western Griffons (14-14, 6-10 MIAA) in a midweek MIAA contest Tuesday, March 26, at 3 p.m. at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field in Warrensburg.
  • The Mules are coming off a three-game, MIAA series sweep over Fort Hays State March 22-24. UCM won 13-0 in seven innings, 9-4 and 16-2 in seven innings.
  • Tuesday's 3 p.m. game vs. the Griffons is Social Media Day at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field. Fans who attend the game can post on either Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram with the hashtag #RollStable. All posts will be eligible to win a $25 gift card from UCM Athletics participating sponsors, as well as Mules baseball swag! One winner will be chosen during the middle of the third, fifth and seventh innings. 
  • Through 30 games, UCM is paced at the plate by designated hitter Vance Tobol (.374 avg., 26 R, 37 H, 6 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 39 RBI, .707 SLG%, 10 BB, 12 SB), outfielders Jack Schark (.357 avg., 28 R, 35 H, 10 2B, 6 HR, 25 RBI, .643 SLG%, 15 BB, 9 SB), Brennen van Breusegen (.447 avg., 34 R, 42 H, 7 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 31 RBI, .840 SLG%, 22 BB, 9 SB) and Carter Young (.369 avg., 39 R, 41 H, 12 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 25 RBI, .658 SLG%, 28 BB, 15 SB), infielders Josh Patrick (.370 avg., 34 R, 34 H, 3 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 20 RBI, .652 SLG%, 21 BB, 11 SB), Jacob Steele (.317 avg., 33 R, 33 H, 5 2B, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 16 BB, 10 SB), Cole Moore (.344 avg., 30 R, 31 H, 7 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 24 RBI, 16 BB, 8 SB) and Max Holy (.372 avg., 40 R, 35 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 41 RBI, .702 SLG%, 15 BB, 16 SB) and catcher Chase Heath (.403 avg., 25 R, 25 H, 7 2B, 7 HR, 28 RBI, .855 SLG%, 15 BB, 4 SB).
  • On the mound through 30 contests, the Mules are led by Conner Wolf (6-0, 2.57 ERA, 4 CG, 49.0 IP, 29 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 7 BB, 46 SO), Jack Kriesman (3-0, 3.86 ERA, 21.0 IP, 29 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 9 BB, 19 SO) and Jake Wilson (5.53 ERA, 2-0, 27.2 IP, 28 H, 18 R, 17 ER, 5 BB, 26 SO).
  • As a team through 30 games, Central Missouri is hitting .368 while holding opponents to a .258 average. In addition, UCM has a .986 fielding percentage and 5.53 team ERA with 30 games in the books. UCM ranks first in the MIAA in hitting (.368 avg.), fourth in pitching (5.53 ERA) and first in fielding (.986 pct.). 
Scorching Offense
  • Through 30 games, UCM has outscored its opponents, 317-168. The Mules have scored at least 10 runs in 19 of their 30 contests this season. 
Notable Streaks National Leaders
  • Through 30 games, the Mules lead all of NCAA-II in batting average (.368), fielding percentage (.986), homers (60) and slugging percentage (.656), and are second in hits (340) and runs (292).

Last Time Out: No. 2 Mules Secure Series Sweep vs. Fort Hays State with 16-2 Win Sunday
  • Max Holy had three hits including a homer as second-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball secured a three-game MIAA series sweep over the Fort Hays State Tigers with a 16-2, seven-inning win Sunday, March 24, at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
  • Holy went a perfect 3-for-3 with his team-high eighth home run of the season to go along with two RBIs while Carter Young was 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs and Brennen van Breusegen was 2-for-3 with a double, triple and RBI, pacing Central Missouri at the plate.
  • UCM starting pitcher Jack Kriesman (3-0) earned the victory on the mound, giving up one earned run on three hits with eight strikeouts and zero walks in five innings of work.
Weekly Honors
  • March 12: Max Holy (Co-MIAA Hitter of the Week)
  • March 18: Brennen van Breusgen (MIAA Hitter of the Week) 
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
  • Tuesday's midweek contest vs. Missouri Western will be meeting number 162 all-time going back to 1970. UCM leads the series, 124-37, and have won the last 11 meetings with the Griffons. The Mules defeated Missouri Western in St. Joseph earlier this season on March 12, 8-4. 
UCM During the Crookes Era
  • Kyle Crookes has a 372-127 (.745) 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 2,130-813-9 record in 2,952 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 travel to Newman for a three-game MIAA series March 28-30 in Wichita, Kan. 
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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
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
Jake Wilson

#26 Jake Wilson

RHP
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
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
Jake Wilson

#26 Jake Wilson

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

#36 Conner Wolf

6' 3"
Junior
R/R
RHP