Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Baseball 3/23/2026 11:45:00 AM

No. 8 Mules Baseball Wraps Up Homestand with Midweek Game vs. Washburn Tuesday

First Pitch

No. 8-ranked University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball (23-5, 14-3 MIAA) wraps up a five-game homestand with a midweek MIAA game against the Washburn Ichabods (10-17, 7-8 MIAA) on Tuesday, March 24, at 3 p.m. at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field in Warrensburg.
Central Missouri is coming off a three-game MIAA series sweep of Arkansas-Fort Smith, March 20-22 in Warrensburg, winning 12-2 in seven innings, 3-2, and 19-12.
Through 28 games, UCM is paced at the plate by infielders Chase Wilcox (.418 avg., 1.120 OPS, 21 R, 33 H, 5 2B, 2 HR, 24 RBI, .582 SLG%, 20 BB, .538 OB%, 12 SB), Grant Hollister (.396 avg., 1.086 OPS, 18 R, 28 H, 15 2B, 2 3B, 28 RBI, .604 SLG%, 11 BB, .482 OB%, 10 SB), Cole Funkhouser (.375 avg., 1.005 OPS, 33 R, 30 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 25 RBI, .500 SLG%, 18 BB, .505 OB%, 12 SB), and Cole Kreisel (.415 avg., 1.254 OPS, 27 R, 22 H, 5 2B, 3 HR, 17 RBI, .679 SLG%, 9 BB, .575 OB%, 12 SB), and outfielders Brock Kobel (.364 avg., 1.035 OPS, 18 R, 28 H, 7 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 23 RBI, .545 SLG%, 19 BB, .490 OB%, 10 SB), Ryker Edwards (.395 avg., .976 OPS, 23 R, 32 H, 3 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 14 RBI, .519 SLG%, 11 BB, .457 OB%, 7 SB), and Kaiden Ashton (.357 avg., .967 OPS, .25 R, 30 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 26 RBI, 26 BB, .491 OB%, 8 SB).
On the mound, Central Missouri is led by left-hander Sawyer Allen (3-0, 2.12 ERA, 29.2 IP, 23 H, 10 R, 7 ER, 6 BB, 34 SO, .207 opp. avg.) and right-handers Gavin Williams (4-0, 2.66 ERA, 1 CG, 1 SV, 20.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 10 BB, 27 SO, .108 opp. avg.) and Greyson Chappel (1-1, 2.31 ERA, 23.1 IP, 14 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 9 BB, 34 SO, .182 opp avg.).
Through 28 contests, the Mules are hitting .349 while holding opponents to .219. The Central Missouri pitching staff has a 4.95 ERA in 229 innings pitched, while the Mules' opponents have an ERA of 9.75 in 218.2 innings.
The Mules are second in the MIAA in hitting (.349) and fielding (.979 pct.), and fourth in pitching (4.95 ERA).
In the latest NCAA-II National Statistics, UCM ranks first in triples (18), second in stolen bases (121), third in on-base percentage (.478), fifth in fielding percentage (.979) and walks (193), and eighth in batting average (.349) and scoring (10.2 runs per game).

Going for Three

The Mules lead the MIAA and NCAA Division II in triples through 28 contests with 18. In UCM's 19-12 win over Arkansas-Fort Smith on March 22, UCM tied the single-game record for triples with four. It was the first time since 2007 that Central Missouri has hit four triples in a game.

Swiping Bases

Through 28 games, Central Missouri has 121 stolen bases in 140 attempts. The Mules have held their opponents to just 28 stolen bags in 37 attempts so far this season. UCM's 121 stolen bases are the second-most in NCAA Division II in 2026.

Notable Streaks

Hitting streaks: Chase Wilcox: 9 games; Grant Hollister: 5 games

Mules in the Rankings

Central Missouri is ranked No. 8 in the latest American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Division II Top 25 Poll released on Tuesday, March 17, No. 6 in the latest NCBWA Division II Poll released on Wednesday, March 18, and No. 7 in the latest D2 Baseball Poll unveiled on Monday, March 23.
UCM was picked first in the 2026 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

Series History vs. Washburn

Tuesday's game against Washburn will mark the 132nd meeting in the all-time series going back to 1983. The Mules lead the series, 101-30. UCM and Washburn met earlier this season on March 10 in Topeka, Kan., with Central Missouri defeating the Ichabods, 7-6.

UCM During the Crookes Era

Kyle Crookes has a 469-152 (.755) record in his 12th season as head coach at Central Missouri.
Crookes is the winningest coach in Mules Baseball history with his 469 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 2,227-838-9 record in 3,074 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 is idle until Tuesday, March 31, when it is scheduled to travel to Maryville, Mo., for a midweek MIAA tussle against the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Jacob Steele: INF; 6' 2"; Senior; R/R

#36 Conner Wolf: RHP; 6' 3"; Senior; R/R

#15 Sawyer Allen: LHP; 6' 1"; Senior; L/L

#1 Cole Funkhouser: INF; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R

#13 Grant Hollister: INF; 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R

#23 Brock Kobel: OF; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior; R/R

#11 Cole Kreisel: INF; 5' 9"; Sophomore; L/R

#16 Jack Scott: RHP; 6' 4"; Junior; R/R

#25 Chase Wilcox: INF; 6' 0"; Senior; L/R

#32 Kaiden Ashton: OF; 5' 7"; Senior; L/R

Players Mentioned

#8 Jacob Steele
: 6' 2"; Senior; R/R
: INF

#36 Conner Wolf
: 6' 3"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#15 Sawyer Allen
: 6' 1"; Senior; L/L
: LHP

#1 Cole Funkhouser
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R
: INF

#13 Grant Hollister
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R
: INF

#23 Brock Kobel
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior; R/R
: OF

#11 Cole Kreisel
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; L/R
: INF

#16 Jack Scott
: 6' 4"; Junior; R/R
: RHP

#25 Chase Wilcox
: 6' 0"; Senior; L/R
: INF

#32 Kaiden Ashton
: 5' 7"; Senior; L/R
: OF