Erik Williams Photography

Baseball 3/6/2024 1:32:00 PM

Third-Ranked Mules Baseball Welcomes Northwest Missouri State March 8-10 for Three-Game MIAA Series

First Pitch

No. 3-ranked Mules baseball (16-3, 5-1 MIAA) is scheduled to host the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats (8-10, 1-5 MIAA) in a three-game MIAA series March 8-10 at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field in Warrensburg. The series opener is slated for 3 p.m. Friday, March 8, with game two at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9, and the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 10.
The Mules are coming off a 10-2 win over the Drury Panthers in a midweek game Tuesday, March 5, in Springfield, Mo.
Central Missouri has won 15 of its last 16 games going into Friday's series opener.
Through 19 games, UCM is paced at the plate by designated hitter Vance Tobol (.424 avg., 16 R, 28 H, 4 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 22 RBI, .742 SLG%, 7 BB, 7 SB), outfielders Jack Schark (.418 avg., 20 R, 28 H, 9 2B, 5 HR, 22 RBI, .776 SLG%, 11 BB, 7 SB), Brennen van Breusegen (.400 avg., 18 R, 22 H, 4 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 18 RBI, .818 SLG%, 14 BB, 4 SB) and Carter Young (.352 avg., 21 R, 25 H, 8 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 17 RBI, .662 SLG%, 16 BB, .6 SB), infielders Josh Patrick (.397 avg., 23 R, 25 H, 3 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 15 RBI, .762 SLG%, 14 BB, 8 SB), Jacob Steele (.349 avg., 22 R, 22 H, 4 2B, 5 HR, 21 RBI, 11 BB, 7 SB), Cole Moore (.322 avg., 16 R, 19 H, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 4 BB, 4 SB) and Max Holy (.316 avg., 22 R, 18 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 9 BB, 8 SB) and catcher Chase Heath (.457 avg., 19 R, 16 H, 5 2B, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 1.114 SLG%, 13 BB, 3 SB).
On the mound through 19 contests, the Mules are led by Conner Wolf (4-0, 2.89 ERA, 28.0 IP, 14 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 5 BB, 30 SO) and Bryce Taylor (1-0, 2.13 ERA, 12.2 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 14 SO).
As a team through 19 games, Central Missouri is hitting .369 while holding opponents to a .252 average. In addition, UCM has a .982 fielding percentage and 5.60 team ERA with 19 games in the books. UCM ranks first in the MIAA in hitting (.369 avg.), sixth in pitching (5.60 ERA) and first in fielding (.982 pct.).

Notable Streaks

Hitting streaks: Josh Patrick (10 games), Chase Heath (8 games), Vance Tobol (6 games), Jacob Steele (6 games)
Reached base safely: Josh Patrick (18 games), Carter Young (18 games), Brennen van Breusegen (18 games), Chase Heath (16 games), Jacob Steele (8 games), Cole Moore (8 games), Jack Schark (7 games), Vance Tobol (6 games)

Last Time Out: No. Mules Score Late to Get Past Drury Tuesday, 10-2

No. 3-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball scored a combined 10 runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to rally from an early deficit and take down Drury, 10-2, Tuesday afternoon, March 5, at Mark Worley Field and Meador Park.
Chase Heath homered for the sixth time this season, hitting a solo home run on a pinch-hit at bat in the eighth inning, while Vance Tobol went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs and Max Holy went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs driven in, leading the Mules at the plate.
UCM reliever JD McReynolds (1-1) earned the win on the mound after allowing zero earned runs on zero hits with two strikeouts and one walk in an inning of work.

Preseason Honors

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

Mules in the Rankings

Central Missouri is No. 3 in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) NCAA Division II Poll released March 6.
The Mules were picked first in the MIAA Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Series History

The three-game series vs. Northwest Missouri State will mark meetings 231-233 in the all-time series going back to 1965. The Mules lead the series, 158-72. Last season, Central Missouri swept a three-game series against the Bearcats in Warrensburg, winning 4-1, 4-0 and 6-5.

UCM During the Crookes Era

Kyle Crookes has a 362-126 (.742) 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 2,120-812-9 record in 2,941 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 Missouri Western for a midweek MIAA contest Tuesday, March 12, at 5 p.m. in St. Joseph, Mo.

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Players Mentioned

#48 Brennen van Breusegen: OF; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior; R/R

#10 Chase Heath: C; 5' 10"; Junior; R/R

#7 Max Holy: INF; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior; R/R

#47 JD McReynolds: RHP; 6' 4"; Junior; L/R

#11 Cole Moore: INF; 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior; L/R

#1 Jack Schark: INF; 5' 10"; Junior; R/R

#8 Jacob Steele: INF; 6' 2"; Junior; R/R

#22 Vance Tobol: OF; 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior; R/R

#48 Brennen van Breusegen: OF; 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior; R/R

#36 Conner Wolf: RHP; 6' 3"; Junior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#48 Brennen van Breusegen
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior; R/R
: OF

#10 Chase Heath
: 5' 10"; Junior; R/R
: C

#7 Max Holy
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior; R/R
: INF

#47 JD McReynolds
: 6' 4"; Junior; L/R
: RHP

#11 Cole Moore
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior; L/R
: INF

#1 Jack Schark
: 5' 10"; Junior; R/R
: INF

#8 Jacob Steele
: 6' 2"; Junior; R/R
: INF

#22 Vance Tobol
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior; R/R
: OF

#48 Brennen van Breusegen
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior; R/R
: OF

#36 Conner Wolf
: 6' 3"; Junior; R/R
: RHP