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University of Central Missouri Athletics

Mules Baseball postgame high fives vs. Rogers State in NCAA-II Central Regional May 15 in Claremore, Oklahoma
Bill Powell

No. 3 Mules Baseball Hosts No. 5 Augustana (S.D.) in NCAA-II Super Regional May 21-23

5/20/2026 10:08:00 AM

2026 NCAA-II Central Super Regional (Best-of-Three Series)
Game 53: No. 3 Central Missouri (37-15) vs. No. 5 Augustana [S.D.] (45-14)
Thursday, May 21 | Noon CT | Warrensburg, Mo. (Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field)
Radio: 98.5 The BAR FM (Alex Kent, play-by-play)
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio

Game 54: No. 3 Central Missouri vs. No. 5 Augustana [S.D.]
Friday, May 22 | TBD | Warrensburg, Mo. (Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field)
Radio: 98.5 The BAR FM (Alex Kent, play-by-play)
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio

Game 55 (if necessary): No. 3 Central Missouri vs. No. 5 Augustana [S.D.]
Saturday, May 23 | TBD | Warrensburg, Mo. (Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field)
Radio: 98.5 The BAR FM (Alex Kent, play-by-play)
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio

Note: Times are subject to change based on weather conditions

2026 UCM Stats (XML) | 2026 UCM Roster | 2026 Augustana Roster | Record Book | Tournament Central | Full Bracket
First Pitch
  • Third-seeded University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball (37-15) is scheduled to face the No. 5-seeded Augustana University (S.D.) Vikings (45-14) in a best-of-three NCAA Division II Super Regional May 21-23 at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field in Warrensburg, Mo. Game one is scheduled for noon CT on Thursday, May 21. Game two on Friday, May 22, and, if necessary, game three on Saturday, May 23, are to-be-determined first pitch times. 
  • This will mark the third consecutive season the Mules have hosted an NCAA Division II Super Regional in Warrensburg. 
  • Central Missouri is coming off a 3-0 performance in the NCAA Division II Central Regional-2 May 14-16 in Claremore, Okla. UCM defeated No. 6-seeded Minnesota State, 3-0, before taking down host and No. 2-seeded Rogers State, 9-2 and 8-3, to advance to the Super Regional. 
  • Through 52 games, UCM is paced at the plate by infielders Chase Wilcox (.363 avg., .968 OPS, 39 R, 61 H, 6 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 40 RBI, 36 BB, .474 OB%, 19 SB), Grant Hollister (.371 avg., 1.010 OPS, 36 R, 53 H, 19 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 41 RBI, .566 SLG%, 14 BB, .444 OB%, 12 SB), Cole Funkhouser (.333 avg., .958 OPS, 56 R, 56 H, 13 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 49 RBI, 34 BB, .464 OB%, 23 SB), and Cole Kreisel (.313 avg., 1.010 OPS, 51 R, 42 H, 10 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 29 RBI, .515 SLG%, 22 BB, .495 OB%, 19 SB), catcher Kaleb Ceola (.385 avg., 1.097 OPS, 15 R, 25 H, 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, .569 SLG%, 16 BB, .528 OB%), and outfielders Evan Vienhage (.361 avg., .978 OPS, 11 R, 22 H, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 18 RBI, .541 SLG%, 7 BB, .437 OB%, 3 SB), 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 (.318 avg., .916 OPS, 33 R, 49 H, 13 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 28 BB, .429 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 (7-1, 2.21 ERA, 73.1 IP, 51 H, 25 R, 18 ER, 19 BB, 73 SO, .192 opp. avg.) and Chris Massey (3-1, 4.22 ERA, 3 SV, 32.0 IP, 26 H, 22 R, 15 ER, 17 BB, 44 SO, .217 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.), Greyson Chappel (2-2, 2.34 ERA, 42.1 IP, 23 H, 14 R, 11 ER, 26 BB, 55 SO, .161 opp avg.), and Sam Wyrick (2-1, 4.24 ERA, 6 SV, 34.0 IP, 36 H, 16 R, 16 ER, 12 BB, 22 SO, .275 opp. avg.).
  • Through 52 contests, the Mules are hitting .320 while holding opponents to .230. The Central Missouri pitching staff has a 4.58 ERA in 436.2 innings pitched, while the Mules' opponents have an ERA of 7.99 in 424.2 innings. 
  • The Mules lead the MIAA in fielding (.981 pct.), are second in pitching (4.58 ERA), and rank third in hitting (.320 avg.) through 52 games. 
  • In the latest NCAA-II National Statistics, UCM ranks third in stolen bases (185) and fielding percentage (.981), fourth in triples (23), and 10th in sacrifice flies (39). Individually, Allen is third in WHIP (0.95), and Kriesel is 10th in hit-by-pitch (26). 
Allen Garners Two All-Central Region Honors (NCBWA Release | D2CCA Release)
  • Left-handed starting pitcher Sawyer Allen was named to both the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-Central Region First Teams. 
  • A native of Plate City, Mo., Allen is 7-1 on the mound with a 2.21 ERA in 14 appearances this season. The left-hander has allowed just 18 earned runs on 51 hits with 73 strikeouts and only 19 walks in 73 1/3 innings pitched. 
  • He ranks second in the MIAA in ERA and opposing batting average (.192), third in strikeouts, and sixth in innings pitched. 
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 No. 22 in the latest American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Division II Top 30 Poll released on Tuesday, May 19. 
Notable Streaks Series History vs. Augustana (S.D.)
  • The Mules and Vikings will meet for the 12th, 13th, and, if an if necessary game is played, 14th time in the all-time series going back to 2001. UCM holds a narrow 6-5 lead in the series. Central Missouri and Augustana last met during the 2024 Central Regional in Warrensburg, with the Mules going 2-0 against the Vikings, winning 18-3 and 13-2. 
UCM During the Crookes Era
  • Kyle Crookes has a 483-162 (.749) record in his 12th season as head coach at Central Missouri.
  • Crookes is the winningest coach in Mules Baseball history with his 483 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-four 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 2,241-848-9 record in 3,098 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
  • If the Mules win the best-of-three Super Regional against Augustana, UCM will capture its 22nd NCAA Division II Regional Championship and advance to the NCAA Division II College World Series in Cary, N.C.
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