Kyle Crookes and Dayvin Johnson
Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Baseball

No. 3 Mules Baseball Opens MIAA Play at Missouri Western Sunday and Monday

Game 8: No. 3 Central Missouri (5-2, 0-0 MIAA) at Missouri Western (1-6, 0-0 MIAA)
Sunday, Feb. 23 | 1 p.m. | St. Joseph, Mo. (Spring Sports Complex)
Live Stats | Live Video (PPV)

Games 9-10: No. 3 Central Missouri at Missouri Western
Monday, Feb. 24 | 1 p.m. (DH) | St. Joseph, Mo. (Spring Sports Complex)
Live Stats | Live Video (PPV)

2025 UCM Stats (XML) | 2025 UCM Roster
First Pitch
  • No. 3-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball (5-2, 0-0 MIAA) is scheduled to open MIAA play with a three-game series at Missouri Western (1-6, 0-0 MIAA) Feb. 23-24 in St. Joseph, Mo. The Mules and Griffons will open the series with a single game Sunday, Feb. 23, at 1 p.m. at the Spring Sports Complex before playing a 1 p.m. doubleheader Monday, Feb. 24, to conclude the series. 
  • UCM has been idle since winning three of four games against Arkansas Tech Feb. 7-8 in Warrensburg. The Mules defeated the Wonder Boys in game one, 13-4, before dropping game two, 4-3 in 12 innings, and winnings games three and four, 6-0 and 13-2, both in seven innings. 
  • Through seven games, UCM is led at the plate by outfielders Isaiah Keller (.333 avg., 7 R, 8 H, 2 2B, 4 RBI, .417 SLG%, 7 BB, .484 OB%, 5 SB) and Vance Tobol (.333 avg., 10 R, 10 H, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, .633 SLG%, 3 BB, .400 OB%, 3 SB), infielders Cole Funkhouser (.350 avg., 7 R, 7 H, 1 3B, 7 RBI, .450 SLG%, 9 BB, .552 OB%, 4 SB) and Jacob Steele (.308 avg., 3 R, 8 H, 1 2B, 1 3B, 10 RBI, .423 SLG%, 4 BB, .400 OB%), and catcher Chase Heath (.458 avg., 7 R, 11 H, 4 2B, 1 3B, 10 RBI, .708 SLG%, 5 BB, .516 OB%, 3 SB). On the mound, the Mules are paced by right-handers Evan O'Toole (1-0, 2.25 ERA, 8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 10 SO) and Nathan Hall (1-0, 4.50 ERA, 8.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 8 SO. 
  • As a team, UCM is hitting .308 while limiting opponents to .247 hitting. The Mules have a 3.98 team ERA and a .992 fielding percentage. 
  • Central Missouri is coming off a 2024 season that saw it compile an overall record of 52-10 and a MIAA record of 29-4. The Mules captured their 30th overall and fifth straight MIAA Regular Season Championship and 20th NCAA-II Regional Title, advancing to the Division II World Series for the 20th time in program history. 
Last Time Out: No. 3 Mules Baseball Sweeps Arkansas Tech Saturday, 6-0 and 13-2
  • Third-ranked Central Missouri Mules baseball swept the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys in a doubleheader Saturday, Feb. 8, at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field, winning game one, 6-0 in seven innings, and game two, 13-2, also in seven innings.
  • In Central Missouri's 6-0, shutout victory in game one, the Mules plated four runs in the second inning and added two in the third enroute to the triumph.
  • UCM scored its four runs in the second on a bases loaded walk, bases loaded hit by pitch, RBI fielder's choice from Jacob Steele, and an RBI ground-out bunt from Chase Heath, before RBI singles from Cole Funkhouser and Will Krzykowski tacked on Central Missouri's two runs in the third frame.
  • Krzykowski went a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate and drove in two runs to pace UCM offensively in game one.
  • Right-handed starting pitcher Evan O'Toole (1-0) earned the win on the mound, allowing no earned runs on just three hits with six strikeouts and only two walks in five innings.
  • In the Mules' 13-2, run-rule win in the nightcap, UCM used an eight-run sixth inning to pull away from Arkansas Tech and coast to the victory.
  • Funkhouser got the scoring going in the sixth with a RBI single through the right side before Dayvin Johnson belted a bases-clearing, three-run double to left-center, upping Central Missouri's lead to 9-1. Heath hit a two-run double to left-center, followed by an Isaiah Keller RBI infield single to second base and a fielder's choice RBI from Funkhouser, increasing the Mules' advantage to 13-1.
  • Vance Tobol went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, Keller was 2-for-3 with three RBI, Funkhouser was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in and a triple, Gran Hollister was 2-for-4, Heath was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, and Johnson was 1-for-4 with a double and three runs driven in, leading Central Missouri in the batter's box in game two.
  • UCM right-handed starting pitcher Nathan Hall (1-0) earned the game two victory, surrendering one earned run on three hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings of work.
Mules Baseball Announces 2025 Diamond Club Inductees, First Pitch Banquet Keynote Speaker
  • The University of Central Missouri Mules baseball program has announced the newest class of inductees into the Mules Baseball Diamond Club as well as the keynote speaker for the annual First Pitch Banquet.
  • Entering the Diamond Club this year are former Mules standout student-athletes Bret Schwartz, Mason Janvrin and Brad Wilson, and former longtime Mules baseball radio broadcaster Bob Jackson.  
  • This year's keynote speaker at the First Pitch Banquet, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, at 5 p.m. inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg, is MLB Hall of Famer George Brett.
  • Register for the First Pitch Banquet by clicking here.
Previewing the 2025 Mules
  • Entering the 2025 season, UCM baseball welcomes back three position starters, including All-MIAA performers Chase Heath (.378 avg., 55 R, 59 H, 13 2B, 16 HR, 62 RBI, .769 SLG%, 25 BB, 15 SO, .466 OB%, 6 SB), Jacob Steele (.362 avg., 78 R, 77 H, 12 2B, 1 3B, 13 HR, 64 RBI, .610 SLG%, 34 BB, 30 SO, .450 OB%, 21 SB) and Vance Tobol (.342 avg., 60 R, 64 H, 15 2B, 6 3B, 11 HR, 59 RBI, .643 SLG%, 22 BB, 44 SO, .415 OB%, 22 SB). 
  • On the mound, Central Missouri welcomes back four starting pitchers, including All-American and Central Region and MIAA Pitcher of the Year Conner Wolf (12-0, 4.05 ERA, 4 CG, 2 SHO, 97.2 IP, 82 H, 46 R, 44 ER, 16 BB, 90 SO, .226 opp. avg.), MIAA Freshman of the Year Jack Scott (5-2, 3.71 ERA, 53.1 IP, 46 H, 25 R, 22 ER, 16 BB, 49 SO, .224 opp. avg.), All-MIAA starting pitcher Jake Wilson (5-0, 4.26 ERA, 1 SV, 57.0 IP, 49 H, 29 R, 27 ER, 18 BB, 48 SO, .233 opp. avg.) and Jack Kreisman (6-1, 4.36 ERA, 64.0 IP, 68 H, 33 R, 31 ER, 23 BB, 50 SO). In addition, the Mules return three relievers who threw at least 15 innings last season, including All-American closer JD McReynolds (8-2, 3.25 ERA, 4 SV, 27.2 IP, 16 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 24  BB, 49 SO, .170 opp. avg.), Bryce Taylor (4-0, 5.48 ERA, 44.1 IP, 52 H, 30 R, 27 ER, 15 BB, 35 SO, .291 opp. avg.) and Jonah Walker (2-1, 5.77 ERA, 1 SV, 34.1 IP, 35 H, 23 R, 22 ER, 15 BB, 25 SO, .271 opp. avg.). 
  • UCM will have several new faces for 2025, including 10 transfers and 13 high school freshmen. 
Preseason Honors
  • Starting pitcher Conner Wolf was named a NCBWA Preseason First Team All-American. 
  • Wolf and infielder Jacob Steele were both named to the National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason All-Central Region Team. 
Mules in the Rankings
  • UCM checks in at No. 3 in the most recent American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and NCBWA Division II Top 25 Polls. 
  • The Mules were picked first in the 2025 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll. 
Series History
  • The three-game series against the Missouri Western Griffons will mark meetings 164-166 in the all-time series going back to 1970. Central Missouri leads the series, 126-37, and has won the last 13 meetings with the Griffons. Last season, UCM swept Missouri Western in the season series, winning 12-5, 8-4 and 12-4. 
UCM During the Crookes Era
  • Kyle Crookes has a 403-135 (.749) record in his 11th season as head coach at Central Missouri. Crookes earned his 400th career win in UCM's 11-8 victory over Jefferson in Houston, Texas, Feb. 2. 
  • 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 was 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.
Mules Baseball History
  • The 2025 season marks the 69th in the storied history of Mules Baseball. During that span the Mules have compiled a 2,161-821-9 record in 2,991 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).
Mules Baseball by the Numbers
  • 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
Quick Hits
  • Central Missouri totaled 52 wins in 2024. 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 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.
Up Next
  • Central Missouri begins a five-game homestand at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field in Warrensburg with a midweek contest vs. Maryville Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 3 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Brennen van Breusegen

#48 Brennen van Breusegen

OF
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Cole Funkhouser

#1 Cole Funkhouser

INF
5' 10"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
Nathan Hall

#35 Nathan Hall

RHP
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
Chase Heath

#10 Chase Heath

C
5' 10"
Senior
R/R
Jack Kreisman

#19 Jack Kreisman

RHP
6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
Will Krzykowski

#23 Will Krzykowski

OF
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
JD McReynolds

#47 JD McReynolds

RHP
6' 4"
Senior
L/R
Jack Scott

#16 Jack Scott

RHP
6' 4"
Sophomore
R/R
Jacob Steele

#8 Jacob Steele

INF
6' 2"
Senior
R/R
Bryce Taylor

#31 Bryce Taylor

RHP
6' 5"
Senior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Brennen van Breusegen

#48 Brennen van Breusegen

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
OF
Cole Funkhouser

#1 Cole Funkhouser

5' 10"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
INF
Nathan Hall

#35 Nathan Hall

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
RHP
Chase Heath

#10 Chase Heath

5' 10"
Senior
R/R
C
Jack Kreisman

#19 Jack Kreisman

6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
RHP
Will Krzykowski

#23 Will Krzykowski

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
OF
JD McReynolds

#47 JD McReynolds

6' 4"
Senior
L/R
RHP
Jack Scott

#16 Jack Scott

6' 4"
Sophomore
R/R
RHP
Jacob Steele

#8 Jacob Steele

6' 2"
Senior
R/R
INF
Bryce Taylor

#31 Bryce Taylor

6' 5"
Senior
R/R
RHP