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University of Central Missouri Athletics

Chase Wilcox (25) and Alex Backhaus (3)
Andrew Mather Photography

Baseball

Second-Ranked Mules Baseball Hosts Drury Tuesday in Final Midweek Game of Regular Season

Game 46: No. 2 Central Missouri (40-5) vs. Drury (24-16)
Tuesday, April 23 | 4 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field)
Radio: 98.5 The BAR (Bob Jackson, pxp; Jason Ketz, color commentary)
Live Video (PPV) | Live Stats | Live Audio | Buy Tickets
$1 Day at the Ballpark sponsored by Sodexo: $1 hot dogs & sodas

2024 UCM Stats (XML) | NCBWA Poll | 2024 UCM Roster | Record Book
First Pitch
  • 2024 MIAA Regular Season Champion and No. 2-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball (40-5) is scheduled to host the Drury Panthers (24-16) in its final midweek game of the 2024 regular season Tuesday afternoon, April 23, at 4 p.m. at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field in Warrensburg.
  • The Mules secured their fifth straight and 30th overall MIAA Regular Season Title after sweeping Rogers State April 19-21 in Claremore, Okla. UCM won game one, 14-8, game two, 4-1, and the series finale, 11-2. 
  • Through 45 games, UCM is paced at the plate by designated hitter Vance Tobol (.350 avg., 40 R, 49 H, 11 2B, 5 3B, 9 HR, 48 RBI, .693 SLG%, 18 BB, 16 SB), outfielders Jack Schark (.362 avg., 39 R, 54 H, 12 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 36 RBI, .617 SLG%, 24 BB, 13 SB), Brennen van Breusegen (.412 avg., 54 R, 63 H, 11 2B, 3 3B, 18 HR, 53 RBI, .876 SLG%, 27 BB, 14 SB) and Carter Young (.369 avg., 65 R, 66 H, 21 2B, 2 3B, 12 HR, 45 RBI, .709 SLG%, 37 BB, 21 SB), infielders Josh Patrick (.358 avg., 45 R, 48 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 10 HR, 34 RBI, .634 SLG%, 25 BB, 13 SB), Jacob Steele (.376 avg., 56 R, 59 H, 9 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 46 RBI, .656 SLG%, 23 BB, 17 SB), Cole Moore (.338 avg., 44 R, 49 H, 10 2B, 6 3B, 3 HR, 41 RBI, 24 BB, 8 SB) and Max Holy (.389 avg., 62 R, 58 H, 9 2B, 3 3B, 11 HR, 60 RBI, .711 SLG%, 28 BB, 28 SB) and catcher Chase Heath (.388 avg., 41 R, 40 H, 10 2B, 12 HR, 47 RBI, .835 SLG%, 24 BB, 5 SB).
  • Van Breusegen is second in the MIAA in hitting (.412) through 45 contests, while Max Holy is fourth (.389), Chase Heath is fifth (.388) and Jacob Steele is ninth (.376). Van Breusegen leads the conference in slugging percentage (.876), is second in homers (18), third in on-base percentage (.511) and fourth in RBIs (53); Heath is second in slugging (.835); Holy is first in RBIs (60), fourth in slugging (.711) and third in runs scored (62); Young is first in doubles (21) and runs scored (65), fourth in hits (66) and fifth in slugging (.709); Steele is fifth in runs scored (56); Cole Moore is second in triples (6) and Vance Tobol is fourth in triples (5). Full MIAA stats 
  • On the mound through 45 contests, the Mules are led by Conner Wolf 9-0, 3.57 ERA, 4 CG, 68.0 IP, 52 H, 28 R, 27 ER, 12 BB, 64 SO), Jack Scott (4-0, 3.45 ERA, 28.2 IP, 26 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 13 BB, 26 SO), Jack Kriesman (4-1, 4.85 ERA, 39.0 IP, 39 H, 22 R, 21 ER, 16 BB, 33 SO) and Jake Wilson (4-0, 4.47 ERA, 46.1 IP, 39 H, 24 R, 23 ER, 14 BB, 38 SO). 
  • Wolf currently ranks second in the MIAA in opposing batting average (.211), third in strikeouts (64) and innings pitched (68.0) and fourth in ERA (3.57).
  • As a team through 45 games, Central Missouri is hitting .362 while holding opponents to a .256 average. In addition, UCM has a .983 fielding percentage and 5.45 team ERA with 45 games in the books. UCM ranks first in the MIAA in hitting (.362 avg.), fourth in pitching (5.45 ERA) and first in fielding (.983 pct.). 
Scorching Offense
  • Through 45 games, UCM has outscored its opponents, 502-249. The Mules have scored at least 10 runs in 28 of their 45 contests this season. 
  • After hitting two homers in Sunday's 11-2 win at Rogers State, UCM set a new single-season record for home runs with 104. The previous record was 102 in 1998.
  • For the first time in program history, Central Missouri has compiled at least 100 doubles (104), 100 homers (104) and 100 stolen bases (152). 
Notable Streaks National Leaders
  • Through 45 games, the Mules lead all of NCAA-II in batting average (.362), fielding percentage (.983), homers (104), slugging percentage (.664), hits (559) and runs (502), and are second in on-base percentage (.460) and stolen bases (152).
  • Individually, Brennen van Breusegen is third in homers (18) and fourth in slugging percentage (.876) while Carter Young is third in runs scored (65) and fourth in doubles (21). 
Last Time Out: No. 2 Mules Clinch Outright MIAA Regular Season Crown with 11-2 Win at Rogers State Sunday
  • No. 2-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball clinched the outright MIAA Regular Season Championship with a 11-2 win over the Rogers State Hillcats in the final game of a three-game MIAA series Sunday, April 21, at the Diamond Sports Complex. The title is the fifth consecutive and 30th overall for the Mules and the sixth under 10th season head coach Kyle Crookes.
  • Chase Heath went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer – his 12th of the season, Brennen van Breusegen went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run – his team-best 18th of 2024, Jack Schark was 2-for-3, and Chase Wilcox was 2-for-4 with a triple and RBI, leading the Mules at the plate.
  • Heath's home run marked the 103rd round-tripper in 2024 for UCM baseball, a new single-season program record. The previous mark was 102 in 1998.
  • Central Missouri starting pitcher Jack Scott (4-0) earned the win on the mound, allowing two earned runs on four hits with six strikeouts and two walks in five innings.
Weekly Honors Holy Tabbed Co-MIAA Hitter of the Week
  • University of Central Missouri Mules baseball infielder Max Holy has been voted the Co-MIAA Hitter of the Week for his performance on the diamond during the week of April 15-21, it was announced Monday, April 22.
  • Holy hit a sizzling .600 with nine hits, six runs, one double, one homer, six RBIs, five walks, a .867 slugging and .667 on-base percentage in UCM's four victories last week.
  • In the Mules' 14-8, game one win at Rogers State Friday, April 19, Holy went a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, homer and five RBIs before going 2-for-3 at the plate in UCM's 4-1, game two win over the Hilcats Saturday, April 20. 
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 17 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
  • Tuesday's contest against Drury will be the 18th meeting in the all-time series going back to 1973. UCM leads the series, 12-5. The Mules defeated the Panthers earlier this season on March 5 in Springfield, Mo., 10-2 (recap). 
UCM During the Crookes Era
  • Kyle Crookes has a 386-128 (.751) 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. The 2024 regular season crown is the sixth for Crookes. 
  • Crookes is up to 11 MIAA Championships, six 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 2,144-814-9 record in 2,967 games played.
  • The Mules have won 40 or more games 23 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)
  • 30 MIAA Regular Season Titles (21 of the last 29)
  • 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
  • UCM is scheduled to host No. 9-ranked Missouri Southern in the final three-game MIAA series of the regular season April 26-28. UCM will celebrate Senior Day Sunday, April 28. 
  • The Mules will host a best-of-three MIAA Baseball Championship Tournament First Round Series May 3-5 in Warrensburg against a to be determined opponent. Game times will be announced at a later date. 
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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
Adamo Stornello

#2 Adamo Stornello

C
5' 8"
Redshirt Junior
L/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
Chase Wilcox

#25 Chase Wilcox

INF
6' 0"
Sophomore
L/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
Adamo Stornello

#2 Adamo Stornello

5' 8"
Redshirt Junior
L/R
C
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
Chase Wilcox

#25 Chase Wilcox

6' 0"
Sophomore
L/R
INF