Carter Young
Mallory Murray

Baseball

No. 2 Mules Baseball Travels to Quincy Wednesday for Midweek Contest, Rogers State April 19-21 for MIAA Series

Game 42: No. 2 Central Missouri (36-5, 24-3 MIAA) at Quincy (14-22, 11-13 GLVC)
Wednesday, April 17 | 2 p.m. | Quincy, Ill. (QU Stadium)
Live Video | Live Stats

Game 43: No. 2 Central Missouri at Rogers State (21-18, 12-15 MIAA)
Friday, April 19 | 3 p.m. | Claremore, Okla. (Diamond Sports Complex
Live Video (PPV) | Live Stats

Game 44: No. 2 Central Missouri at Rogers State
Saturday, April 20 | 2 p.m. | Claremore, Okla. (Diamond Sports Complex
Live Video (PPV) | Live Stats

Game 45: No. 2 Central Missouri at Rogers State
Sunday, April 21 | 1 p.m. | Claremore, Okla. (Diamond Sports Complex
Live Video (PPV) | Live Stats

2024 UCM Stats (XML) | NCBWA Poll | 2024 UCM Roster | Record Book
First Pitch
  • No. 2-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball (36-5, 24-3 MIAA) is scheduled to play a non-conference midweek game at Quincy (14-22, 11-13 GLVC) Wednesday, April 17, at 2 p.m. at QU Stadium in Quincy, Ill., before trekking to Claremore, Okla., for a three-game MIAA series at Rogers State (21-18, 12-15 MIAA) April 19-21 at the Diamond Sports Complex. The series opener with the Hillcats is slated for 3 p.m. Friday, April 19, with game two at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, and the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 21. 
  • The Mules are coming off a 2-1 MIAA series win at Emporia State April 12-14 in Emporia, Kan. UCM won game one, 21-7 in seven innings, before dropping game two, 15-5 in eght innings, and winning the series finale, 5-1. 
  • Through 41 games, UCM is paced at the plate by designated hitter Vance Tobol (.360 avg., 39 R, 49 H, 11 2B, 5 3B, 9 HR, 48 RBI, .713 SLG%, 18 BB, 16 SB), outfielders Jack Schark (.352 avg., 37 R, 50 H, 11 2B, 8 HR, 36 RBI, .613 SLG%, 23 BB, 12 SB), Brennen van Breusegen (.418 avg., 48 R, 56 H, 9 2B, 3 3B, 15 HR, 47 RBI, .866 SLG%, 26 BB, 14 SB) and Carter Young (.385 avg., 62 R, 62 H, 21 2B, 2 3B, 11 HR, 41 RBI, .745 SLG%, 34 BB, 20 SB), infielders Josh Patrick (.362 avg., 40 R, 42 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 27 RBI, .629 SLG%, 24 BB, 12 SB), Jacob Steele (.384 avg., 52 R, 56 H, 9 2B, 1 3B, 10 HR, 41 RBI, .664 SLG%, 22 BB, 17 SB), Cole Moore (.357 avg., 42 R, 46 H, 10 2B, 6 3B, 3 HR, 39 RBI, 19 BB, 8 SB) and Max Holy (.366 avg., 56 R, 49 H, 8 2B, 3 3B, 10 HR, 54 RBI, .694 SLG%, 23 BB, 23 SB) and catcher Chase Heath (.379 avg., 35 R, 36 H, 9 2B, 10 HR, 41 RBI, .789 SLG%, 21 BB, 4 SB).
  • Van Breusegen leads the MIAA in hitting (.418) through 41 contests, while Carter Young is fifth (.385), Jacob Steele is seventh (.384) and Chase Heath is eighth (.379). Van Breusegen is also tops in the MIAA in slugging percentage (.866) while Heath is third (.839), Young is fourth (.745) and Vance Tobol is eighth (.713). Young leads the conference in doubles (21) and runs scored (62), and is fourth in hits (62), while van Breusegen is second in on-base percentage (.524), and Holy is third in runs scored (56) and RBIs (54). Full MIAA stats 
  • On the mound through 41 contests, the Mules are led by Conner Wolf 8-0, 3.43 ERA, 4 CG, 63.0 IP, 46 H, 24 R, 24 ER, 9 BB, 58 SO), Jack Kriesman (3-0, 5.73 ERA, 33.0 IP, 36 H, 22 R, 21 ER, 14 BB, 30 SO) and Jake Wilson (4-0, 4.69 ERA, 40.1 IP, 36 H, 22 R, 21 ER, 12 BB, 31 SO). 
  • Wolf currently ranks second in the MIAA in opposing batting average (.203), third in innings pitched (63.0), fourth in ERA (3.43) and fifth in strikeouts (58). 
  • As a team through 41 games, Central Missouri is hitting .367 while holding opponents to a .259 average. In addition, UCM has a .985 fielding percentage and 5.60 team ERA with 41 games in the books. UCM ranks first in the MIAA in hitting (.367 avg.), fourth in pitching (5.60 ERA) and first in fielding (.985 pct.). 
Scorching Offense
  • Through 41 games, UCM has outscored its opponents, 458-232. The Mules have scored at least 10 runs in 25 of their 41 contests this season. 
Notable Streaks National Leaders
  • Through 41 games, the Mules lead all of NCAA-II in batting average (.367), fielding percentage (.985), homers (92), slugging percentage (.671), hits (512) and runs (458), and are second in on-base percentage (.465) and stolen bases (140).
  • Individually, Carter Young leads the country in doubles (21) and is fourth in runs scored (62), and Conner Wolf is fifth in complete games (4). 
Last Time Out: No. 2 Mules Earn Serie Win with 5-1 Victory at Emporia State Sunday
  • Second-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball posted a 5-1 victory over the Emporia State Hornets in the series finale of a three-game MIAA series Sunday, April 14, at the Trusler Sports Complex.
  • Brennen van Breusegen and Carter Young both hit home runs, while Chase Wilcox and Josh Patrick each had two hits, with Patrick also collecting two RBIs, leading Central Missouri at the plate. Van Breusegen's homer was his team-best 15th of the season while Young's was his 11th of 2024.
  • UCM reliever JD McReynolds (5-1) earned the win on the mound after giving up no earned runs on just one hit with three strikeouts and one walk in 1 1/3 innings while Harrison Babbitt secured his second save of the season after allowing no earned run on no hits with two strikeouts and two walks in an inning of work.
Weekly Honors
  • March 12: Max Holy (Co-MIAA Hitter of the Week)
  • March 18: Brennen van Breusgen (MIAA Hitter of the Week) 
  • April 1: Brennen van Breusegen (MIAA Hitter of the Week)
Mules in the Rankings
  • Central Missouri is No. 2 in both the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) NCAA Division II Poll unveiled April 10 and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) NCAA Division II Poll released April 15.
  • The Mules were picked first in the MIAA Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Series History
  • Quincy: Wednesday's midweek contest at Quincy will mark the 14th meeting in the all-time series going back to 1982. UCM leads the series, 10-3, after defeating the Hawks earlier this season on March 19 in Warrensburg, 10-6.
  • Rogers State: The three-game series at Rogers State will be meetings 15-17 in the all-time series dating back to 2020. Central Missouri leads the series, 12-2. The Mules and Hillcats met five times last season, with UCM winning two of three games in Claremore, Okla., W 12-1 (7 inn.), L, 5-4, W 9-1, before sweeping RSU, 2-0, in a best-of-three MIAA Tournament First Round Series in Warrensburg, 7-2 and 7-1. 
UCM During the Crookes Era
  • Kyle Crookes has a 382-128 (.749) 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 2,140-814-9 record in 2,963 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 10 full seasons under Coach Crookes. They won 20 of 23 games in 2020 before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 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 37 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 host Drury in a midweek non-conference contest April 23 at 6 p.m. at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field before welcoming Missouri Southern to Warrensburg for the final three games of the regular season April 26-28. Senior Day will be Saturday, April 27. 
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Players Mentioned

Brennen van Breusegen

#48 Brennen van Breusegen

OF
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Harrison Babbitt

#34 Harrison Babbitt

RHP
6' 5"
Redshirt Senior
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
Adamo Stornello

#2 Adamo Stornello

C
5' 8"
Redshirt Junior
L/R
Vance Tobol

#22 Vance Tobol

OF
6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Brennen van Breusegen

#48 Brennen van Breusegen

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
OF
Harrison Babbitt

#34 Harrison Babbitt

6' 5"
Redshirt Senior
R/R
RHP
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
Adamo Stornello

#2 Adamo Stornello

5' 8"
Redshirt Junior
L/R
C
Vance Tobol

#22 Vance Tobol

6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
OF