Andrew Mather | University Photographer

No. 4 Mules Back Home for Three-Game MIAA Series vs. Newman to Close Out February

2/26/2026 12:15:00 PM

First Pitch

Fourth-ranked University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball (12-2, 3-0 MIAA) is scheduled to host the Newman Jets (3-11, 1-3 MIAA) in a three-game MIAA series Feb. 27-28 at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field in Warrensburg. The series opener is slated for 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, before the two teams play a noon doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 28, to wrap up the series.
The Mules, who've won six straight games, are coming off a 15-3, run-rule win over the Maryville Saints in a midweek game on Tuesday afternoon in St. Louis, Mo.
Through 14 games, UCM is paced offensively by outfielder Brock Kobel (.424 avg., 1.205 OPS, 8 R, 14 H, 4 2B,1 HR, 15 RBI, .636 SLG%, 14 BB, .569 OB%, 5 SB),, and infielders Cole Funkhouser (.500 avg., 1.201 OPS, 17 R, 16 H, 2 2B, 10 RBI, .563 SLG%, 12 BB, .638 OB%, 9 SB), Evan Vienhage (.385 avg., 1.032 OPS, 8 R, 15 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 10 RBI, .564 SLG%, 5 BB, 3 SB) and Grant Hollister (.439 avg., 1.205 OPS, 19 R, 25 H,12 2B, 1 3B, 17 RBI, .684 SLG%, 8 BB, .521 OB%, 8 SB). On the mound, Central Missouri is led by left-hander Sawyer Allen (0-0, 0.93 ERA, 9.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 16 SO, .167 opp. avg.) and right-handers Greyson Chappel (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 14.0 IP, 9 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 23 SO, .191 opp avg.), and Gavin Killion (1-0, 0.90 ERA, 10.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 15 SO, .206 opp. avg.).
Through 14 contests, the Mules are hitting .341 while holding opponents to .222. The Central Missouri pitching staff has a 4.30 ERA in 115 innings pitched, while the Mules' opponents have an ERA of 9.65 in 110 innings.
The Mules are third in the MIAA in hitting (.341) and pitching (4.30 ERA), and fifth in fielding (.978 pct.).
Central Missouri is coming off a 2025 season that saw it compile an overall record of 48-14 and a MIAA record of 29-7. The Mules captured their 31st overall and sixth straight MIAA Regular Season Championship and 21st NCAA-II Regional Title, advancing to the Division II World Series for the 21st time in program history. UCM advanced all the way to the best-of-three national championship series at the World Series in Cary, N.C., ultimately finishing as the national runner-up to the Tampa Spartans.

Notable Streaks

Hitting streaks: Grant Hollister: 11 games, Drew Veatch: 6 games, Chase Wilcox: 5 games

Swiping Bases

Through 14 games, Central Missouri has 74 stolen bases in 82 attempts. The Mules' have held their opponents to just 16 stolen bags in 21 attempts so far this season. UCM's 74 stolen bases are the second-most in NCAA Division II in 2026.

Previewing the 2026 Mules

Entering the 2026 season, UCM baseball welcomes back three position starters, including 2025 MIAA Freshman of the Year infielder Cole Kreisel (.328 avg., .908 OPS, 51 R, 63 H, 9 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 29 RBI, 37 BB, .476 OB%, 13 SB), Honorable Mention All-MIAA infielder Grant Hollister (.333 avg., .927 OPS, 40 R, 59 H, 16 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 49 RBI, 14 BB, .430 OB%, 9 SB), and MIAA Gold Glove Team first baseman Chase Wilcox (.278 avg., .841 OPS, 48 R, 60 H, 11 2B, 8 HR, 38 BB, .401 OB%, 16 SB)
On the mound, Central Missouri welcomes back two starting pitchers, including Honorable Mention All-MIAA selections Jack Scott (4.41 ERA, 4-1, 1 SV, 85.2 IP, 103 H, 46 R, 42 ER, 30 BB, 73 SO, .299 opp. avg.) and Jack Kreisman (6.06 ERA, 3-3, 1 SV, 78.2 IP, 76 H, 56 R, 53 ER, 31 BB, 66 SO, .252 opp. avg.) In addition, the Mules return four relievers who threw at least 15 innings last season, including Honorable Mention All-MIAA reliever Chris Massey (5.75 ERA, 3-1, 1 SV, 36.0 IP, 34 H, 25 R, 23 ER, 25 BB, 47 SO, .250 opp. avg.), Sam Wyrick (2.91 ERA, 3-0, 4 SV, 34.0 IP, 27 H, 18 R, 11 ER, 15 BB, 20 SO, .218 opp. avg.), Sawyer Allen (4.62 ERA, 7-1, 1 SV, 48.2 IP, 46 H, 31 R, 25 ER, 22 BB, 40 SO, .250 opp. avg.) and Egan Keeler (4.79 ERA, 4-1, 20.2 IP, 20 H, 20 R, 11 ER, 13 BB, 22 SO, .247 opp. avg.).
The Mules have numerous newcomers to the 2026 roster, including 14 transfers and 11 high school freshmen.

Mules in the Rankings

The Mules are ranked No. 4 in the latest American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Division II Poll released on Tuesday, Feb. 24. UCM is No. 3 in the most recent D2 Baseball Poll unveiled on Monday, Feb. 23, and No. 6 in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Poll sent out on Wednesday, Feb. 18.
UCM was picked first in the 2026 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

Series History vs. Newman

The three-game series against Newman will mark meetings 19-21 in the all-time series going back to 2020. The Mules are 18-0 against the Jets all-time. Last season, UCM swept a three-game series in Wichita, Kan., winning 11-8, 17-12, and 9-3.

UCM During the Crookes Era

Kyle Crookes has a 458-149 (.755) record in his 12th season as head coach at Central Missouri.
Crookes is the winningest coach in Mules Baseball history with his 454 victories.
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, while the Mules' 2025 regular season title marks the seventh for Crookes as head coach.
Crookes has won up to 13 MIAA Championships, seven regular season and six tournament.
He also has five regional championships to his credit in 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and 2025.
During his 11 seasons at the helm, 116 players have earned All-MIAA honors, including 36 First Team nods, Players of the Year in Erik Webb in 2019, Dusty Stroup in 2021, Brennen van Breusegen in 2022 and 2024, and Jacob Steele in 2025, Pitcher of the Year Conner Wolf in 2024, and Freshman of the Year Jack Scott in 2024 and Cole Kreisel in 2025. Thirty-three players have earned All-Region honors, 17 All-American and eight 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 2026 season marks the 70th in the storied history of Mules Baseball. During that span the Mules have compiled a 2,216-835-9 record in 3,060 games played.
The Mules have won 40 or more games 24 times, including 14 straight seasons from 1999-2012, and have won 50 or more games 10 times.
The Mules have won or shared 31 MIAA regular season championships, 16 MIAA tournament championships, captured 21 regional titles, and two national championships (1994, 2003).

Mules Baseball by the Numbers

35 NCAA Regional Appearances (27 of the last 30 years)
31 MIAA Regular Season Titles
16 MIAA Tournament Titles
21 Regionals as host site
21 Regional Championships
16 Top Five national finishes
5 Third-place finishes
3 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 each of the 11 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 Mules have finished with a winning record in each of the last 38 seasons.

Up Next

UCM hosts MoWest in a three-game MIAA series March 6-8 in Warrensburg.

Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Related Stories