Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Baseball 3/30/2026 1:07:00 PM

No. 7 Mules Travel to Northwest Missouri State Tuesday for Midweek MIAA Tilt

First Pitch

No. 7-ranked University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball (24-5, 15-3 MIAA) is scheduled to travel to Maryville, Mo., for a midweek MIAA contest against the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats (22-9, 12-5 MIAA) on Tuesday, March 31, at 2 p.m. at Bearcat Baseball Field.
UCM has been idle since a 13-0, seven-inning victory over the Washburn Ichabods on Tuesday, March 24, in Warrensburg.
Through 29 games, UCM is paced at the plate by infielders Chase Wilcox (.440 avg., 1.157 OPS, 23 R, 37 H, 6 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 27 RBI, .607 SLG%, 20 BB, .550 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 (.383 avg., 1.020 OPS, 36 R, 31 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 27 RBI, .506 SLG%, 19 BB, .514 OB%, 12 SB), and Cole Kreisel (.393 avg., 1.207 OPS, 28 R, 22 H, 5 2B, 3 HR, 17 RBI, .643 SLG%, 11 BB, .564 OB%, 12 SB), and outfielders Brock Kobel (.388 avg., 1.109 OPS, 20 R, 31 H, 7 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 25 RBI, .600 SLG%, 20 BB, .509 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 (.348 avg., .951 OPS, 25 R, 31 H, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 27 RBI, 26 BB, .479 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 (5-0, 2.13 ERA, 1 CG, 1 SV, 25.1 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 11 BB, 27 SO, .122 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 29 contests, the Mules are hitting .353 while holding opponents to .217. The Central Missouri pitching staff has a 4.81 ERA in 236 innings pitched, while the Mules' opponents have an ERA of 10.01 in 224.2 innings.
The Mules lead the MIAA in fielding (.980 pct.), rank second in hitting (.353 avg.), and third in pitching (4.81 ERA) through 29 games.
In the latest NCAA-II National Statistics, UCM ranks first in triples (18) and on-base percentage (.481), second in stolen bases (124), fourth in fielding percentage (.980), sixth in batting average (.353 avg.), eighth in scoring (10.3 runs per game), and ninth in walks (200 walks).

Going for Three

The Mules lead the MIAA and NCAA Division II in triples through 29 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 29 games, Central Missouri has 124 stolen bases in 144 attempts. The Mules have held their opponents to just 28 stolen bags in 37 attempts so far this season. UCM's 124 stolen bases are the second-most in NCAA Division II in 2026.

Notable Streaks

Hitting streaks: Chase Wilcox: 10 games; Cole Young: 5 games; Grant Hollister: 5 games

Mules in the Rankings

Central Missouri is ranked No. 7 in both the most recent American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Division II Poll released Tuesday, March 24, and the D2 Baseball Poll unveiled on Monday, March 30.
UCM was picked first in the 2026 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

Series History vs. Northwest Missouri State

Tuesday's game at Northwest Missouri will mark the 238th meeting in the all-time series dating back to 1995. UCM leads the series, 163-74. The Mules hosted the Bearcats earlier this season in Warrensburg on March 18 and posted an 11-7 victory.

UCM During the Crookes Era

Kyle Crookes has a 470-152 (.756) record in his 12th season as head coach at Central Missouri.
Crookes is the winningest coach in Mules Baseball history with his 470 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 2,228-838-9 record in 3,075 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

Central Missouri is scheduled to return home to Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field to host the No. 15-ranked and MIAA-leading Rogers State Hillcats in a three-game series April 2-4.

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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

#21 Cole Young: UTL; 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman; R/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

#21 Cole Young
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman; R/R
: UTL