Baseball | 5/29/2024 8:30:00 PM

• NCAA-II Central Region Champion and No. 1-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball (52-8) is slated for face defending NCAA-II National Champion, eighth-seeded Angelo State (41-19) in its opening game of the 2024 NCAA-II College World Series Saturday, June 1, at 5 p.m. CT (6 p.m. ET) at the USA Baseball Training Complex in Cary, N.C.
• Central Missouri, which has qualified for 34 NCAA tournaments in program history, is making its 20th appearance at the College World Series and first since 2021 when the Mules finished as the national runner up. 
• The Mules swept the best-of-three Super Regional series, 2-0, against sixth-seeded Arkansas-Monticello May 24-25 in Warrensburg, winning 11-6 and 9-4 to secure the 20th regional championship all-time. 
• Through 60 games, UCM is paced at the plate by designated hitter Vance Tobol (.346 avg., 52 R, 66 H, 14 2B, 6 3B, 11 HR, 59 RBI, .654 SLG%, 21 BB, 21 SB), outfielders Jack Schark (.338 avg., 51 R, 69 H, 15 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 51 RBI, .564 SLG%, 35 BB, 14 SB), Brennen van Breusegen (.385 avg., 70 R, 80 H, 14 2B, 5 3B, 21 HR, 69 RBI, .803 SLG%, 36 BB, 21 SB) and Carter Young (.373 avg., 87 R, 91 H, 23 2B, 5 3B, 16 HR, 63 RBI, .705 SLG%, 49 BB, 30 SB), infielders Josh Patrick (.358 avg., 60 R, 64 H, 6 2B, 3 3B, 12 HR, 44 RBI, .626 SLG%, 36 BB, 21 SB), Jacob Steele (.367 avg., 76 R, 76 H, 12 2B, 1 3B, 13 HR, 64 RBI, .623 SLG%, 31 BB, 20 SB), Cole Moore (.349 avg., 63 R, 68 H, 14 2B, 7 3B, 4 HR, 52 RBI, .554 SLG%, 36 BB, 8 SB) and Max Holy (.365 avg., 76 R, 76 H, 13 2B, 4 3B, 14 HR, 73 RBI, .668 SLG%, 40 BB, 31 SB) and catcher Chase Heath (.392 avg., 55 R, 58 H, 13 2B, 16 HR, 62 RBI, .804 SLG%, 24 BB, 6 SB).
• On the mound through 60 contests, the Mules are led by Conner Wolf (12-0, 4.17 ERA, 4 CG, 90.2 IP, 79 H, 44 R, 42 ER, 16 BB, 85 SO), Jack Scott (5-1, 3.72 ERA, 46.0 IP, 42 H, 21 R, 19 ER, 15 BB, 39 SO), Jack Kriesman (6-1, 4.36 ERA, 64.0 IP, 68 H, 33 R, 31 ER, 23 BB, 50 SO) and Jake Wilson (5-0, 4.31 ERA, 1 SV, 56.1 IP, 48 H, 29 R, 27 ER, 18 BB, 48 SO). 
• As a team through 60 games, Central Missouri is hitting .358 while holding opponents to a .258 average. In addition, UCM has a .982 fielding percentage and 5.42 team ERA with 60 games in the books. UCM ranks first in the MIAA in hitting (.358 avg.), third in pitching (5.42 ERA) and first in fielding (.982 pct.). 

• Through 60 games, UCM has outscored its opponents, 657-333. The Mules have scored at least 10 runs in 36 of their 60 contests this season. 
• The Mules have hit a single-season record 126 home runs and 37 triples, and stolen a season-record 193 bases. The 37 triples, 126 homers, and 193 stolen bases are also MIAA records while the 122 homers is one off tying the MIAA single-season record. 
• Central Missouri also has program and MIAA single-season records for RBIs (600), runs scored (657) and total bases (1,325). In additon, the Mules have drawn a single-season program record of 346 walks. 
• For the first time in program history, Central Missouri has compiled at least 100 doubles (135), 100 homers (126) and 100 stolen bases (193). 
• Individually, Brennen van Breusegen is three home runs away from tying the UCM single-season record of 24 set by Bennett Oliver in 2016 while Carter Young is three doubles away from matching the Central Missouri single-season record of 26 established by Morgan Burkhart (1994) and Erik Webb (2019).

• Hitting streaks: Brennen van Breusegen (8 games), Carter Young (8 games), Vance Tobol (8 games), Chase Heath (6 games)
• Reached base safely: Cole Moore (21 games), Adamo Stornello (14 games), Josh Patrick (13 games), Carter Young (11 games), Jacob Steele (10 games), Vance Tobol (8 games)

• Through 60 games, the Mules lead all of NCAA-II in batting average (.358), fielding percentage (.982), homers (126), hits (738), runs scored (657) and slugging percentage (.643).
• Individually, Cole Moore is fifth in triples (7), Carter Young is third in runs scored (87), eighth in doubles (23) and ninth in hits (91), Brennen van Breusegen is seventh in homers (21), and Conner Wolf is second in victories (12).

• The Mules moved up to No. 1 in all of NCAA-II in the latest American Baseball Coaches Association Top-25 poll released Tuesday, May 28. 

• The Mules and Angelo State Rams will meet for just the second time ever when they face off Saturday in the NCAA-II World Series. Angelo State defeated Central Missouri, 6-3, during the 2009 South Central Regional in Warrensburg. 

• Kyle Crookes has a 398-131 (.752) record in his 10th season as head coach at Central Missouri. He sits two wins shy of notching 400 career victories as the head coach for the Mules.
• Crookes is the second winningest coach in program history, trailing just former UCM head coach Brad Hill, who posted a 418-91 record from 1995-2003. 
• 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 four regional championships to his credit in 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024.
• During his 10 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-nine players have earned All-Region honors, 13 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.

• The 2024 season marks the 68th in the storied history of Mules Baseball. During that span the Mules have compiled a 2,156-817-9 record in 2,982 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 10 times.
• The Mules have won or shared 30 MIAA regular season championships, 16 MIAA tournament championships, captured 20 regional titles and two national championships (1994, 2003).

• 34 NCAA Regional Appearances (26 of the last 29 years)
• 30 MIAA Regular Season Titles
• 16 MIAA Tournament Titles
• 20 Regional Championships
• 20 Regionals as host site
• 16 Top Five national finishes
• 5 Third place finishes
• 2 National Runners Up finishes
• 2 National Championships

• 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 is making their 20th trip to the NCAA-II College World Series in 2024. 
• The Mules have finished with a winning record in each of the last 37 seasons.

• University of Central Missouri Mules baseball had three student-athletes earn National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) All-America accolades, it was announced Thursday, May 23. Outfielder Brennen van Breusegen was a First Team All-America honoree while fellow outfielder Carter Young received Second Team All-America recognition and starting pitcher Conner Wolf garnered Third Team All-America honors.

• Five University of Central Missouri Mules baseball student-athletes were named to the 2024 American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings NCAA Division II All-Central Region Teams, it was announced Wednesday, May 29.
• Outfielders Brennen van Breusegen and Carter Young, first baseman Josh Patrick, and starting pitcher Conner Wolf earned First Team All-Region honors while third baseman Jacob Steele received Second Team All-Region accolades.

• Starting pitcher Conner Wolf was named the Central Region Pitcher of the Year and joined four fellow Mules Baseball student-athletes who were named to the 2024 Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) All-Central Region Teams, it was announced Thursday, May 23.
• Wolf and outfielders Brennen van Breusegen and Carter Young were First Team All-Central Region honorees while first baseman Josh Patrick and catcher Chase Heath took home Second Team All-Central Region accolades.

• The 2024 MIAA Regular Season Champion Mules baseball team had four student-athletes named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) All-Central Region Teams, it was announced Wednesday, May 15. In addition, UCM head coach Kyle Crookes was tabbed the Central Region Coach of the Year and starting pitcher Conner Wolf was voted the region's Pitcher of the Year.
• Joining Wolf on the first team were outfielders Brennen van Breusegen and Carter Young while first baseman Josh Patrick was a second team selection.

• 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.

• 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)

• If the Mules win Saturday, they'll advance in the winner's bracket of the College World Series and face the winner of the No. 4 Point Loma vs. No. 5 Indiana (Pa.) contest Monday, June 3, at 5 p.m. CT (6 p.m. ET). A UCM loss would drop it into the elimination bracket and a 12:30 p.m. CT (1:30 p.m. ET) elimination game Monday vs. the loser of the Point Loma/Indiana (Pa.) contest.