Chase Wilcox home run vs. Augustana (S.D.) in NCAA-II Super Regional May 22 in Warrensburg, Missouri

Andrew Mather | University Photographer

No. 4 Mules Set to Take On No. 5 UT Tyler in NCAA-II World Series Opener Friday

5/27/2026 9:30:00 PM

First Pitch

NCAA Division II Central Regional Champion University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball (39-15) is set to open play in the 2026 NCAA-II World Series in Cary, N.C., on Friday, May 29, at 12:30 p.m. CT (1:30 p.m. ET) at the USA Baseball National Training Complex against the UT Tyler Patriots (48-12).
This will be the Mules' third straight and 22nd overall appearance in the World Series.
Central Missouri is the number four seed in the eight-team field while UT Tyler is the number five seed.
The Mules have qualified for 36 NCAA-II tournaments in program history.
Central Missouri swept the number five seed Augustana (S.D.) Vikings, 2-0, in a best-of-three Super Regional May 21-22 at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field in Warrensburg, winning 6-1 and 10-1, to secure a spot in the World Series.
UCM went a perfect 3-0 in the Central Regional tournament May 14-16 in Claremore, Okla., defeating No. 6 seed Minnesota State, 3-0, and No. 2 seed and regional co-host Rogers State twice, 9-2 and 8-3.
Through 54 games, UCM is paced at the plate by infielders Chase Wilcox (.367 avg., .969 OPS, 41 R, 65 H, 7 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 43 RBI, .514 SLG%, 37 BB, .475 OB%, 19 SB), Grant Hollister (.373 avg., 1.024 OPS, 39 R, 57 H, 20 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 47 RBI, .582 SLG%, 14 BB, .442 OB%, 12 SB), Cole Funkhouser (.326 avg., .946 OPS, 58 R, 58 H, 13 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 51 RBI, 34 BB, .452 OB%, 23 SB), and Cole Kreisel (.326 avg., 1.030 OPS, 54 R, 46 H, 11 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 29 RBI, .525 SLG%, 23 BB, .505 OB%, 19 SB), catcher Kaleb Ceola (.384 avg., 1.068 OPS, 16 R, 28 H, 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, .548 SLG%, 17 BB, .520 OB%), and outfielders Evan Vienhage (.391 avg., 1.057 OPS, 12 R, 27 H, 6 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, .594 SLG%, 7 BB, .463 OB%, 3 SB), Ryker Edwards (.356 avg., .930 OPS, 32 R, 52 H, 6 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 25 RBI, .507 SLG%, 19 BB, .423 OB%, 11 SB), Brock Kobel (.311 avg., .893 OPS, 34 R, 50 H, 13 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 32 RBI, 28 BB, .421 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 (8-1, 2.08 ERA, 1 CG, 82.1 IP, 59 H, 26 R, 19 ER, 20 BB, 80 SO, .198 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 (3-1, 3.76 ERA, 6 SV, 38.1 IP, 37 H, 16 R, 16 ER, 13 BB, 24 SO, .253 opp. avg.).
Through 54 contests, the Mules are hitting .321 while holding opponents to .227. The Central Missouri pitching staff has a 4.41 ERA in 454.2 innings pitched, while the Mules' opponents have an ERA of 8.01 in 441.2 innings.
In NCAA-II postseason play, Central Missouri is hitting .328 and has a 1.20 team ERA. The UCM pitching staff has allowed just six earned runs on 36 hits, with 33 strikeouts and only 18 walks in 45 innings in the Mules' five NCAA tournament contests.
In the latest NCAA-II National Statistics, UCM ranks first in hits allowed per nine innings (7.48), third in stolen bases (189) and fielding percentage (.980), fourth in triples (23), seventh in WHIP (1.34), 11th in sacrifice flies (39), and 13th in strikeouts per nine innings (9.1). Individually, Allen is third in WHIP (0.96) and 12th in hits allowed per nine innings (6.45), and Kriesel is fifth in hit-by-pitch (28).

Allen Garners Trio of All-Central Region Honors (NCBWA Release | D2CCA Release | ABCA Release)

Left-handed starting pitcher Sawyer Allen was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA), and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Division II All-Central Region First Teams.
A native of Plate City, Mo., Allen is 8-1 on the mound with a 2.08 ERA in 15 appearances this season. The left-hander has allowed just 19 earned runs on 59 hits with 80 strikeouts and only 20 walks in 82 1/3 innings pitched.
He ranks second in the MIAA in ERA and opposing batting average (.198), third in strikeouts, and fifth in innings pitched.

Chappel Named ABCA/Rawlings Division II All-Central Region Second Team (ABCA Release)

Right-handed starting pitcher Greyson Chappel was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Division II All-Central Region Second Team.
Chappel, who hails from Shawnee, Kan., is 2-2 on the mound with a 2.34 ERA in 13 appearances in 2026. He's allowed just 11 earned runs on 23 hits with 55 strikeouts and 26 walks, and held opposing batters to a .161 batting average in 42 1/3 innings of work this season.

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. 13 in the latest American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Division II Top 30 Poll released on Tuesday, May 26.

Notable Streaks

Hitting Streaks: Kaiden Ashton: 8 games; Kaleb Ceola: 6 games; Chase Wilcox: 5 games; Evan Vienhage: 5 games; Grant Hollister: 4 games
On-Base Streaks: Grant Hollister: 13 games; Chase Wilcox: 13 games; Brock Kobel: 12 games; Kaiden Ashton: 8 games; Kaleb Ceola: 6 games; Drew Veatch: 6 games; Jackson Helberg: 6 games; Evan Vienhage: 5 games; Lincoln Stephenson: 5 games

Swiping Bases

Entering the World Series, the Mules have stolen 189 bases in 224 attempts. That ranks third in NCAA Division II and is just eight shy of tying the program record for stolen bases in a season (197 in 2024).

Series History vs. UT Tylver

This will be the first-ever meeting on the diamond between the Mules and the University of Texas at Tyler Patriots.

UCM During the Crookes Era

Kyle Crookes has a 485-162 (.750) record in his 12th season as head coach at Central Missouri.
Crookes is the winningest coach in Mules Baseball history with his 485 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 six regional championships to his credit in 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
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-five players have earned All-Region honors, 17 All-American honors, 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 2,243-848-9 record in 3,100 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 22 regional titles, and two national championships (1994, 2003).

Mules Baseball by the Numbers

36 NCAA Regional Appearances (28 of the last 31 years)
22 Regional Championships
31 MIAA Regular Season Titles
16 MIAA Tournament Titles
21 Regionals as host site
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 Friday, they'll advance in the winner's bracket of the World Series and face the winner of the No. 1 seed West Chester vs. No. 8 seed UIndy contest on Sunday, May 31 at 5 p.m. CT (6 p.m. ET). A UCM loss would drop it into the elimination bracket and a 12:30 p.m. CT (1:30 p.m. ET) elimination game on Sunday vs the loser of the West Chester/UIndy game.

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