2024 MIAA Baseball Tournament First Round Series (best-of-three)
Game 50: No. 1 Central Missouri (43-6) vs. No. 8 Fort Hays State (25-24)
Friday, May 3 | 6 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field)
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Bob Jackson, pxp)
Live Video (PPV) | Live Stats | Live Audio | Buy Tickets

Game 51: No. 1 Central Missouri vs. No. 8 Fort Hays State
Saturday, May 4 | 2 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field)
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Bob Jackson, pxp)
Live Video (PPV) | Live Stats | Live Audio | Buy Tickets

Game 52 (if necessary): No. 1 Central Missouri vs. No. 8 Fort Hays State
Sunday, May 5 | 1 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field)
Radio: 1450 KOKO & 98.5 The BAR (Bob Jackson, pxp)
Live Video (PPV) | Live Stats | Live Audio | Buy Tickets

2024 UCM Stats (XML) | 2024 UCM Roster | Record Book | MIAA Tournament Central | First Round Series Information

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First Pitch

• 2024 MIAA Regular Season Champion and top-seeded Central Missouri Mules baseball (43-6) is scheduled to host eighth-seeded Fort Hays State (25-24) in a best-of-three MIAA Baseball Championship Tournament first round series May 3-5 at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field in Warrensburg. Game 1 is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, May 3, with game two at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 4, and, if necessary, game three at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 5. 
• The Mules are coming off a 2-1 series win over No. 9-ranked Missouri Southern April 26-28 in Warrensburg. UCM won game one, 7-4, and the series finale,5-2, but dropped game two, 9-7. 
• Through 49 games, UCM is paced at the plate by designated hitter Vance Tobol (.346 avg., 42 R, 54 H, 12 2B, 6 3B, 9 HR, 50 RBI, .673 SLG%, 18 BB, 17 SB), outfielders Jack Schark (.346 avg., 41 R, 56 H, 13 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 39 RBI, .605 SLG%, 25 BB, 13 SB), Brennen van Breusegen (.395 avg., 57 R, 66 H, 11 2B, 3 3B, 18 HR, 55 RBI, .820 SLG%, 28 BB, 16 SB) and Carter Young (.371 avg., 70 R, 72 H, 22 2B, 3 3B, 14 HR, 49 RBI, .732 SLG%, 41 BB, 22 SB), infielders Josh Patrick (.359 avg., 46 R, 52 H, 6 2B, 1 3B, 10 HR, 35 RBI, .621 SLG%, 26 BB, 13 SB), Jacob Steele (.368 avg., 59 R, 63 H, 10 2B, 1 3B, 12 HR, 51 RBI, .649 SLG%, 23 BB, 17 SB), Cole Moore (.333 avg., 46 R, 51 H, 11 2B, 6 3B, 3 HR, 42 RBI, 27 BB, 8 SB) and Max Holy (.388 avg., 68 R, 64 H, 12 2B, 3 3B, 12 HR, 64 RBI, .715 SLG%, 31 BB, 28 SB) and catcher Chase Heath (.400 avg., 43 R, 44 H, 10 2B, 13 HR, 48 RBI, .845 SLG%, 24 BB, 5 SB).
• Heath is third in the MIAA in hitting through 49 contests at .400 while van Breusegen is fourth (.395) and Holy is seventh (.388). Heath is the MIAA leader in slugging (.845) and is fourth in on-base percentage (.500); Van Breusegen is tied for first in homers (18) and is second in slugging percentage (.820); Holy is first in RBIs (64), fifth in slugging (.715) and second in runs scored (68); Young is first in doubles (22) and runs scored (70), and fourth in hits (72) and slugging percentage (.732); Cole Moore (6) and Vance Tobol (6) are tied for second in triples. Full MIAA stats 
• On the mound through 49 contests, the Mules are led by Conner Wolf 10-0, 3.82 ERA, 4 CG, 73.0 IP, 59 H, 32 R, 31 ER, 14 BB, 69 SO), Jack Scott (4-0, 3.37 ERA, 34.2 IP, 30 H, 14 R, 13 ER, 13 BB, 29 SO), Jack Kriesman (4-1, 4.20 ERA, 45.0 IP, 45 H, 22 R, 21 ER, 16 BB, 37 SO) and Jake Wilson (4-0, 4.25 ERA, 48.2 IP, 41 H, 24 R, 23 ER, 15 BB, 39 SO). 
• Wolf currently ranks third in the MIAA in opposing batting average (.220) and innings pitched (73.0), and fourth in strikeouts (69) and ERA (3.82).
• As a team through 49 games, Central Missouri is hitting .359 while holding opponents to a .259 average. In addition, UCM has a .984 fielding percentage and 5.35 team ERA with 49 games in the books. UCM ranks first in the MIAA in hitting (.359 avg.), fourth in pitching (5.35 ERA) and first in fielding (.984 pct.). 

Mules Baseball Earns Numerous All-MIAA Accolades

• Brennen van Breusegen was voted the Player of the Year, Conner Wolf was tabbed the Pitcher of the Year, Jack Scott earned Co-Freshman of the Year and Kyle Crookes garnered Coach of the Year accolades to highlight numerous All-MIAA postseason accolades for the 2024 MIAA Regular Season Champion Central Missouri Mules baseball team, it was announced Thursday, May 2.
• Van Breusegen (OF), Wolf (SP), Chase Heath (C), Josh Patrick (1B), Max Holy (SS), Carter Young (OF) and Vance Tobol (DH) earned First Team All-MIAA honors while Jake Wilson (SP), Cole Moore (2B), Jacob Steele (3B) and Jack Schark (OF) were Second Team All-MIAA selections. Scott (SP) earned Third Team All-MIAA accolades while Harrison Babbitt (RP) was an Honorable Mention All-MIAA recipient.
• Van Breusegen (OF), Wolf (SP), Heath (C), Moore (2B) and Young (OF) all earned All-MIAA Gold Glove team honors for their defensive performance throughout the regular season.

Scorching Offense

• Through 49 games, UCM has outscored its opponents, 533-266. The Mules have scored at least 10 runs in 29 of their 49 contests this season. 
• The Mules have hit a single-season record 110 home runs so far this season. 
• For the first time in program history, Central Missouri has compiled at least 100 doubles (116), 100 homers (110) and 100 stolen bases (159). 

Notable Streaks

• Hitting streaks: Max Holy (9 games), Adamo Stornello (5 games)
• Reached base safely: Brennen van Breusegen (13 games), Adamo Stornello (12 games), Cole Moore (10 games), Max Holy (9 games)

National Leaders

• Through 49 games, the Mules lead all of NCAA-II in batting average (.359), fielding percentage (.984), homers (110), slugging percentage (.659), hits (602) and runs (533).
• Individually, Carter Young is third in runs scored (70) and fourth in doubles (22). 

Last Time Out: No. 2 Mules Walk-Off No. 9 Missouri Southern on Senior Day, 5-2

• Jacob Steele hit a walk-off, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give second-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball a 5-2, series-clinching victory over the No. 9-ranked Missouri Southern Lions on Senior Day Sunday, April 28, at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
• Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the ninth, Max Holy worked a lead-off walk before moving to second on Josh Patrick's sacrifice bunt and advancing to third on a ground-out from Vance Tobol, bringing Cole Moore to the plate with two outs. Moore hit a 3-2 pitch straight back at the pitcher's mound for an infield single, allowing Holy to score the tying run.
• After Brennen van Breusegen walked, Steele stepped to the plate and crushed a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall, sending UCM home with the 5-2, walk-off victory. It was Steele's 12th home run of 2024.
• Patrick went 2-for-3 with a double and RBI, while Holy posted a double, and Steele compiled three RBIs on his walk-off homer, pacing Central Missouri at the plate.
• UCM reliever JD McReynolds (6-1) earned the win on the mound after collecting the final out of the top of the ninth 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)

Mules in the Rankings

• Central Missouri is No. 2 in both the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) NCAA Division II Poll unveiled May 1 and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) NCAA Division II Poll released April 29.
• UCM is also number one in the first set of NCAA-II Central Regional Rankings released Wednesday, May 1. 
• The Mules were picked first in the MIAA Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Series History

• The MIAA Tournament First Round series against Fort Hays State will mark meetings 69, 70 and, if an if-necessary game is played, 71 in the all-time series going back to 1995. UCM leads the series, 55-13. The Mules swept the Tigers in a three-game series earlier this season in Warrensburg, winning 13-0 in seven innings, 9-4 and 16-2 in seven innings May 22-24. 

UCM During the Crookes Era

• Kyle Crookes has a 389-129 (.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, 102 players have earned All-MIAA honors, including 33 First Team nods, Players of the Year in Erik Webb in 2019, Dusty Stroup in 2021 and Brennen van Breusegen in 2022 and 2024, Pitcher of the Year Conner Wolf in 2024, and Co-Freshman of the Year Jack Scott in 2024. 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 2,147-815-9 record in 2,971 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

• If the Mules advance out of the first round, they will move onto the MIAA Baseball Championship Tournament double-elimination championship round scheduled for May 9-11 in Pittsburg, Kan.