Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Baseball 3/9/2026 3:05:00 PM

Fourth-Ranked Mules Travel to Washburn Tuesday for MIAA Contest

First Pitch

Fourth-ranked University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball (17-3, 8-1 MIAA) is set to travel Topeka, Kan., for a MIAA midweek game against the Washburn Ichabods (8-11, 5-2 MIAA) on Tuesday, March 10, at 3 p.m. on Falley Field at Steve Anson Stadium.
The Mules are coming off a 2-1 MIAA series win over the Missouri Western State University Griffons March 7-8 in Warrensburg, dropping game one 10-3, before winning game two, 16-0 in seven innings, and game three, 13-3 in seven innings.
Through 20 games, UCM is paced offensively by outfielders Brock Kobel (.439 avg., 1.195 OPS, 15 R, 25 H, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 20 RBI, .632 SLG%, 17 BB, .563 OB%, 9 SB) and Kaiden Ashton (.322 avg., .850 OPS, 16 R, 19 H, 3 2B, 1 3B, 20 RBI, 15 BB, .443 OB%, 7 SB), and infielders Cole Funkhouser (.393 avg., .973 OPS, 25 R, 22 H, 3 2B, 16 RBI, 13 BB, .527 OB%, 11 SB), and Grant Hollister (.395 avg., 1.095 OPS, 24 R, 30 H,14 2B, 1 3B, 23 RBI, .605 SLG%, 11 BB, .490 OB%, 9 SB). On the mound, Central Missouri is led by left-hander Sawyer Allen (2-0, 1.83 ERA, 19.2 IP, 15 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 24 SO, .205 opp. avg.) and right-handers Greyson Chappel (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 17.1 IP, 10 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 27 SO, .179 opp avg.), Gavin Williams (4-0, 2.81 ERA, 16.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 8 BB, 18 SO, .100 opp. avg.), and Gavin Killion (1-1, 1.65 ERA, 16.1 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 19 SO, .179 opp. avg.).
Through 20 contests, the Mules are hitting .353 while holding opponents to .209. The Central Missouri pitching staff has a 4.25 ERA in 161 innings pitched, while the Mules' opponents have an ERA of 10.14 in 152.2 innings.
The Mules are second in the MIAA in hitting (.353), and third in pitching (4.25 ERA) and fielding (.980 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.

Williams Spins Seventh Solo No-Hitter in Mules Baseball History

Freshman pitcher Gavin Williams threw the ninth no-hitter in University of Central Missouri Baseball history and the first solo no-hitter since Danny Powers in 2004 in the No. 4 Mules' 16-0, seven-inning, shutout win over the Missouri Western State University Griffons in game two of an MIAA doubleheader on Saturday, March 7, at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field.
Williams (4-0), a right-hander from St. Elizabeth, Mo., became just the seventh Mules Baseball student-athlete to throw a solo no-hitter after giving up zero earned runs on zero hits with a career-high 11 strikeouts and just two walks on 101 pitches in UCM's 16-0, seven-inning, run-rule victory in game two.
UCM had combined no-hitters in 2018 and 1975.

Weekly Honors

University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball swept the MIAA Baseball Weekly Awards released by the conference office on Monday, March 9, as Gavin Williams was tabbed the Pitcher of the Week and Cole Kreisel garnered Hitter of the Week accolades.
Williams, a freshman right-hander from St. Elizabeth, Mo., earned Pitcher of the Week honors after throwing the ninth overall no-hitter and seventh solo no-hitter in Mules Baseball history in the Mules' 16-0, seven-inning, run-rule win over Missouri Western State University in game two of a doubleheader on Saturday, March 7, in Warrensburg. Williams secured the first solo no-no since Danny Powers in 2004 after giving up zero earned runs on zero hits with a career-best 11 strikeouts and just two walks in seven innings and 101 pitches.
Kreisel, a sophomore infielder from Warrensburg, hit .600 with six hits in 10 at-bats in UCM's series win over the Griffons March 7-8. He tallied a double, home run, two RBI, a 1.000 slugging percentage, one walk, a .733 on-base percentage, and four stolen bases in four attempts on the week. In UCM's 16-0 win in game two of a doubleheader Saturday, Kreisel went 2-for-2 with three runs and a double before going 3-for-3 with his second home run of the season, five runs, an RBI, and three stolen bases in Central Missouri's 13-3, seven-inning triumph in the series finale Sunday, March 8.

Notable Streaks

Hitting streaks: Brock Kobel: 8 games; Cole Kreisel: 6 games

Swiping Bases

Through 20 games, Central Missouri has 102 stolen bases in 113 attempts. The Mules' have held their opponents to just 17 stolen bags in 23 attempts so far this season. UCM's 102 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, March 3, and the most recent D2 Baseball poll released on Monday, March 9.
UCM was picked first in the 2026 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

Series History vs. Washburn

Tuesday's midweek game against the Ichabods will mark the 131st meeting in the all-time series dating back to 1983. The Mules lead the series, 100-30. Last season, UCM went 2-1 against Washburn, winning 5-1 and 9-2 in Warrensburg and losing 14-7 in Topeka.

UCM During the Crookes Era

Kyle Crookes has a 463-150 (.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 2,221-836-9 record in 3,066 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

The Mules travel to Pittsburg, Kan., for a key MIAA series at No. 3 Pittsburg State March 13-15.

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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

#44 Egan Keeler: LHP; 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior; L/L

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

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

#19 Jack Kreisman: RHP; 6' 0"; Junior; L/R

#14 Chris Massey: LHP; 5' 9"; Junior; L/L

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

#44 Egan Keeler
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior; L/L
: LHP

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

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

#19 Jack Kreisman
: 6' 0"; Junior; L/R
: RHP

#14 Chris Massey
: 5' 9"; Junior; L/L
: LHP