Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Baseball 4/6/2026 2:43:00 PM

No. 7 Mules Host Drury Tuesday

First Pitch

No. 7-ranked Central Missouri Mules Baseball (25-8) will look to snap a two-game skid when it welcomes the Drury Panthers (20-13) to Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field in Warrensburg for a 3 p.m. non-conference midweek game on Tuesday, April 7.
The Mules are coming off a 5-2 loss to No. 15-ranked Rogers State on Saturday, April 4, in Warrensburg.
Through 33 games, UCM is paced at the plate by infielders Chase Wilcox (.398 avg., 1.057 OPS, 25 R, 39 H, 6 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 30 RBI, .541 SLG%, 24 BB, .516 OB%, 13 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 (.378 avg., 1.024 OPS, 40 R, 37 H, 9 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 28 RBI, .520 SLG%, 21 BB, .504 OB%, 13 SB), and Cole Kreisel (.397 avg., 1.200 OPS, 31 R, 27 H, 6 2B, 3 HR, 20 RBI, .618 SLG%, 15 BB, .582 OB%, 14 SB), and outfielders Ryker Edwards (.415 avg., 1.025 OPS, 25 R, 39 H, 3 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 16 RBI, .553 SLG%, 12 BB, .472 OB%, 9 SB), Brock Kobel (.380 avg., 1.068 OPS, 23 R, 35 H, 8 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 25 RBI, .576 SLG%, 20 BB, .492 OB%, 11 SB), and Kaiden Ashton (.333 avg., .927 OPS, 29 R, 35 H, 7 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 31 RBI, 28 BB, .460 OB%, 10 SB).
On the mound, Central Missouri is led by left-hander Sawyer Allen (4-0, 2.04 ERA, 35.1 IP, 26 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 8 BB, 37 SO, .198 opp. avg.) and right-handers Gavin Williams (5-0, 2.37 ERA, 1 CG, 1 SV, 30.1 IP, 12 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 12 BB, 28 SO, .124 opp. avg.) and Greyson Chappel (1-2, 3.04 ERA, 26.2 IP, 16 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 12 BB, 38 SO, .180 opp avg.).
Through 33 contests, the Mules are hitting .344 while holding opponents to .221. The Central Missouri pitching staff has a 4.88 ERA in 269 innings pitched, while the Mules' opponents have an ERA of 9.50 in 257.2 innings.
The Mules lead the MIAA in fielding (.981 pct.), rank second in hitting (.344 avg.), and fourth in pitching (4.88 ERA) through 33 games.
In the latest NCAA-II National Statistics, UCM ranks first in triples (20), second in stolen bases (136), third in fielding percentage (.981), fourth in on-base percentage (.470), and ninth in walks (217).

Going for Three

The Mules lead the MIAA and NCAA Division II in triples through 33 contests with 20. 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 33 games, Central Missouri has 136 stolen bases in 160 attempts. The Mules have held their opponents to just 32 stolen bags in 43 attempts so far this season. UCM's 136 stolen bases are the second-most in NCAA Division II in 2026.

Mules in the Rankings

Central Missouri is ranked No. 7 in the most recent American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Division II Poll released Tuesday, March 31, and 15th in the latest D2 Baseball Poll unveiled on Monday, April 6.
UCM was picked first in the 2026 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

Series History vs. Drury

Tuesday's midweek showdown with the Panthers will be meeting number 20 in the all-time series, going back to 1973. The Mules lead the series, 13-6. UCM faced Drury earlier this season in Springfield, Mo., on Feb. 10 and suffered a 9-7 loss.

UCM During the Crookes Era

Kyle Crookes has a 471-155 (.752) record in his 12th season as head coach at Central Missouri.
Crookes is the winningest coach in Mules Baseball history with his 471 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 2,229-841-9 record in 3,079 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 travels to Hays, Kan., for a three-game MIAA series at Fort Hays State April 10-12.

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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