Brock Kobel (23) vs. Newman on Feb. 27, 2026

Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Third-Seeded Mules Take On Sixth-Seeded Mavericks in NCAA-II Central Regional Opener Thursday

5/12/2026 10:17:00 AM

First Pitch

Third-seeded and No. 30-ranked University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball (34-15) is scheduled to take on the sixth-seeded and No. 19-ranked Minnesota State Mavericks (40-14) in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Division II Central Regional Tournament on Thursday, May 14, at 5 p.m. at the RCB Bank Sports Complex in Claremore, Oklahoma.
This marks the Mules' 36th appearance overall, and the 28th appearance in their last 31 seasons in the NCAA Division II tournament.
Central Missouri is coming off an 8-7 setback in 11 innings to the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats in the MIAA tournament quarterfinals on May 7 in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Through 49 games, UCM is paced at the plate by infielders Chase Wilcox (.370 avg., 1.000 OPS, 37 R, 57 H, 6 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 40 RBI, .513 SLG%, 36 BB, .487 OB%, 19 SB), Grant Hollister (.377 avg., 1.037 OPS, 32 R, 49 H, 18 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 39 RBI, .585 SLG%, 14 BB, .452 OB%, 12 SB), Cole Funkhouser (.316 avg., .936 OPS, 52 R, 50 H, 12 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 45 RBI, 33 BB, .455 OB%, 21 SB), and Cole Kreisel (.339 avg., 1.074 OPS, 49 R, 42 H, 10 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 29 RBI, .556 SLG%, 22 BB, .518 OB%, 19 SB), catcher Kaleb Ceola (.357 avg., 1.071 OPS, 13 R, 20 H, 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 11 RBI, .571 SLG%, 12 BB, .500 OB%), and outfielders Ryker Edwards (.359 avg., .935 OPS, 32 R, 52 H, 6 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 25 RBI, .510 SLG%, 19 BB, .425 OB%, 11 SB), Brock Kobel (.317 avg., .928 OPS, 33 R, 45 H, 12 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 29 RBI, 28 BB, .435 OB%, 12 SB), and Kaiden Ashton (.351 avg., .906 OPS, 40 R, 53 H, 8 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 38 RBI, 34 BB, .456 OB%, 15 SB).
On the mound, Central Missouri is led by left-handers Sawyer Allen (6-1, 2.41 ERA, 67.1 IP, 50 H, 25 R, 18 ER, 15 BB, 68 SO, .203 opp. avg.), and right-handers Gavin Williams (5-0, 3.63 ERA, 1 CG, 1 SV, 34.2 IP, 19 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 14 BB, 30 SO, .167 opp. avg.) and Greyson Chappel (2-2, 2.48 ERA, 40.0 IP, 22 H, 14 R, 11 ER, 25 BB, 53 SO, .163 opp avg.).
Through 49 contests, the Mules are hitting .320 while holding opponents to .228. The Central Missouri pitching staff has a 4.77 ERA in 409.2 innings pitched, while the Mules' opponents have an ERA of 8.13 in 399.2 innings.
The Mules lead the MIAA in fielding (.980 pct.), rank third in hitting (.320 avg.), and fourth in pitching (4.77 ERA) through 49 games.
In the latest NCAA-II National Statistics, UCM ranks fourth in triples and stolen bases (178), fifth in fielding percentage (.980), sixth in sacrifice flies (39), and 14th in on-base percentage (.444) and walks (300). Individually, Allen is fourth in WHIP (0.97), Kriesel is 11th in hit-by-pitch (24), and Ashton is 15th in sacrifice flies (7).

Eight Mules Earn All-MIAA Baseball Honors for 2026 (Full Release)

Eight University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball student-athletes were voted to the 2026 All-MIAA Baseball teams for their performances on the field during the 2026 regular season.
Starting pitcher Sawyer Allen earned First Team All-MIAA accolades, while fellow starting pitcher Greyson Chappel and shortstop Cole Kreisel were Second Team All-MIAA selections. Relief pitcher Gavin Williams, first baseman Chase Wilcox, and utility player Cole Funkhouser received Third Team All-MIAA recognition, and relief pitcher Sam Wyrick and outfielder Ryker Edwards were named Honorable Mention All-MIAA.
Kreisel and Wilcox were also named to the All-MIAA Gold Glove Team for their defensive performances throughout regular-season action.

Mules in the Rankings

The Mules are tied for No. 30 in the most recent American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Division II rankings released on Tuesday, May 12.

Notable Streaks

Hitting Streaks: Kaiden Ashton: 8 games; Grant Hollister: 5 games
On-Base Streaks: Grant Hollister, Chase Wilcox, Kaiden Ashton, Cole Funkhouser: 8 games; Brock Kobel: 7 games

Series History

Minnesota State: Thursday's NCAA-II Central Regional opening round game vs. the Mavericks will be meeting number 29 in the all-time series. UCM leads the series, 21-7. Central Missouri and Minnesota State last met in 2024 in the NCAA-II Central Regional first round in Warrensburg, with the Mules defeating the Mavericks, 12-10.
Rogers State: Should the Mules take on No. 2-seeded and host Rogers State in the regional, it would mark meeting number 24 in the all-time series going back to 2020. Central Missouri leads the series, 18-5. UCM dropped two of three games to the Hillcats earlier this season in a MIAA series in Warrensburg, winning game one, 13-1 in seven innings, before falling in games two (5-2) and three (5-2).
Missouri Southern: If the Mules face No. 7-seeded Missouri Southern in regional action, it would be the 132nd meeting all-time, dating back to 1983. The Mules lead the series, 100-31. Central Missouri and Missouri Southern met earlier this season in Warrensburg, with the Lions winning games one (7-6) and three (11-5), and the Mules taking game two, 11-7.

UCM During the Crookes Era

Kyle Crookes has a 480-162 (.748) record in his 12th season as head coach at Central Missouri.
Crookes is the winningest coach in Mules Baseball history with his 480 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 marked 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, 124 players have earned All-MIAA honors, including 37 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 2,238-848-9 record in 3,095 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

36 NCAA Regional Appearances (28 of the last 31 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 12 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

With a win on Thursday, UCM would advance in the winner's bracket of the Central Regional and play the winner of the Rogers State/Missouri Southern contest at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 15. If Central Missouri drops Thursday's game, it would face the loser of the RSU/MSSU game in an elimination contest on Friday at 2 p.m.

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