Game 47: No. 2 Central Missouri (41-5, 27-3 MIAA) vs. No. 9 Missouri Southern (36-11, 23-7 MIAA)
Friday, April 26 | 1 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field)
Radio: 98.5 The BAR (Bob Jackson, pxp)
Live Video (PPV) | Live Stats | Live Audio | Buy Tickets
Black Out Game -- All fans encouraged to wear black!

Game 48: No. 2 Central Missouri vs. No. 9 Missouri Southern
Saturday, April 27 | Noon | Warrensburg, Mo. (Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field)
Radio: 98.5 The BAR (Bob Jackson, pxp)
Live Video (PPV) | Live Stats | Live Audio | Buy Tickets
UCM Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day

Game 49: No. 2 Central Missouri vs. No. 9 Missouri Southern
Sunday, April 28 | 1 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field)
Radio: 98.5 The BAR (Alex Kent, pxp; Jason Ketz, color commentary)
Live Video (PPV) | Live Stats | Live Audio | Buy Tickets
Senior Day (postgame ceremony)

2024 UCM Stats (XML) | NCBWA Poll | 2024 UCM Roster | Record Book

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First Pitch

• 2024 MIAA Regular Season Champion and No. 2-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball (41-5, 27-3 MIAA) is scheduled to host the No. 9-ranked Missouri Southern Lions (36-11, 23-7 MIAA) for the final three-game MIAA series of the regular season April 26-28 at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field in Warrensburg. The series opener is slated for 1 p.m. Friday, April 26, with game two at noon Saturday, April 27, and the regular season finale at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 28. 
• The Mules are coming off a 12-2, seven-inning win over the Drury Panthers in a midweek game Tuesday, April 23, in Warrensburg. 
• Through 46 games, UCM is paced at the plate by designated hitter Vance Tobol (.354 avg., 41 R, 51 H, 11 2B, 6 3B, 9 HR, 48 RBI, .701 SLG%, 18 BB, 17 SB), outfielders Jack Schark (.359 avg., 40 R, 55 H, 13 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 38 RBI, .614 SLG%, 24 BB, 13 SB), Brennen van Breusegen (.408 avg., 55 R, 64 H, 11 2B, 3 3B, 18 HR, 53 RBI, .860 SLG%, 27 BB, 15 SB) and Carter Young (.375 avg., 67 R, 69 H, 22 2B, 2 3B, 13 HR, 47 RBI, .728 SLG%, 37 BB, 22 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 (.381 avg., 58 R, 61 H, 10 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 47 RBI, .663 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 (.383 avg., 63 R, 59 H, 9 2B, 3 3B, 12 HR, 61 RBI, .714 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 (.408) through 46 contests, while Chase Heath is fourth (.388), Max Holy is seventh (.383), Jacob Steele is eighth (.381) and Carter Young is 10th (.375). Van Breusegen leads the conference in slugging percentage (.860), is second in homers (18), fourth in on-base percentage (.505) and fifth in RBIs (53); Heath is second in slugging (.835); Holy is tied for first in RBIs (61), fifth in slugging (.714) and second in runs scored (63); Young is first in doubles (22) and runs scored (67), and fourth in hits (69) and slugging percentage (.728); Steele is fifth in runs scored (58); Cole Moore (6) and Vance Tobol (6) are tied for second in triples. Full MIAA stats 
• On the mound through 46 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 46 games, Central Missouri is hitting .363 while holding opponents to a .257 average. In addition, UCM has a .984 fielding percentage and 5.40 team ERA with 46 games in the books. UCM ranks first in the MIAA in hitting (.363 avg.), fourth in pitching (5.40 ERA) and first in fielding (.984 pct.). 

Scorching Offense

• Through 46 games, UCM has outscored its opponents, 514-251. The Mules have scored at least 10 runs in 29 of their 46 contests this season. 
• The Mules have hit a single-season record 106 home runs so far this season. 
• For the first time in program history, Central Missouri has compiled at least 100 doubles (109), 100 homers (106) and 100 stolen bases (158). 

Notable Streaks

• Hitting streaks: Brennen van Breusegen (10 games), Jack Schark (8 games), Max Holy (6 games), Josh Patrick (5 games), Jacob Steele (5 games)
• Reached base safely: Adamo Stornello (11 games), Brennen van Breusegen (10 games), Cole Moore (7 games), Max Holy (6 games), Chase Wilcox (6 games), Josh Patrick (5 games), Jacob Steele (5 games)

National Leaders

• Through 46 games, the Mules lead all of NCAA-II in batting average (.363), fielding percentage (.984), homers (106), slugging percentage (.668), hits (575) and runs (514), and are second in on-base percentage (.460) and stolen bases (158).
• Individually, Brennen van Breusegen is fourth in homers (18) and fifth in slugging percentage (.860) while Carter Young is first in runs scored (67) and third in doubles (22). 

Last Time Out: No. 2 Mules Thump Drury Tuesday, 12-2

• Second-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball rolled past the Drury Panthers, 12-2 in seven innings, in a midweek non-conference game Tuesday afternoon, April 23, at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
• Brett Grupe went a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, RBI and three runs scored, Carter Young was 3-for-5 with a double, his 13th home run of the season, two RBIs and two runs scored, Max Holy belted his 12th homer of 2024, Vance Tobol was 2-for-4 with a triple, Chase Wilcox was 2-for-5 with two RBIs, Jacob Steele was 2-for-3 with a double, and Jack Schark had a double, pacing Central Missouri offensively in the victory.
• UCM left-handed reliever Egan Keeler (1-0) earned the win on the mound after allowing no earned runs on no hits in an inning.

Weekly Honors

• March 12: Max Holy (Co-MIAA Hitter of the Week)
• March 18: Brennen van Breusegen (MIAA Hitter of the Week) 
• April 1: Brennen van Breusegen (MIAA Hitter of the Week)
• April 22: Max Holy (Co-MIAA Hitter of the Week)

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 24 and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) NCAA Division II Poll released April 22.
• The Mules were picked first in the MIAA Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Series History

• The three-game series against the Lions will mark meetings 120-122 in the all-time series going back to 1983. UCM leads the series, 94-26. The Mules went 3-1 against Missouri Southern last season, winning 8-5 and 5-3, and falling 3-2 in Joplin, Mo., before defeating the Lions in the MIAA Tournament Championship Game in Warrensburg, 15-0 in seven innings. 

UCM During the Crookes Era

• Kyle Crookes has a 387-128 (.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 2,145-814-9 record in 2,968 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

• 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.