Mules Baseball high fives vs. UIndy in the NCAA-II World Series on Sunday, May 31, 2026 in Cary, North Carolina

Andrew Mather | University Photographer

No. 4 Mules Battle No. 5 Patriots in NCAA-II World Series Tuesday in Cary

6/1/2026 12:32:00 PM

First Pitch

No. 4-seeded University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball (40-16) is set to take on the No. 5-seeded University of Texas at Tyler Patriots (49-13) in an NCAA Division II World Series elimination game on Tuesday afternoon, June 2, at 12:30 p.m. CT (1:30 p.m. ET) at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.
UCM kept its 2026 season alive with a record-breaking 23-9 win over No. 8-seeded UIndy on Sunday in an elimination game. The 23 runs were the most runs scored in a single game by a team since the World Series moved to Cary in 2009.
The Mules have qualified for 36 NCAA-II tournaments in program history. This is UCM's third straight and 22nd overall World Series appearance.
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 56 games, UCM is paced at the plate by infielders Chase Wilcox (.368 avg., .984 OPS, 44 R, 68 H, 7 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 46 RBI, .508 SLG%, 39 BB, .476 OB%, 19 SB), Grant Hollister (.368 avg., 1.015 OPS, 41 R, 60 H, 22 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 47 RBI, .577 SLG%, 14 BB, .438 OB%, 12 SB), Cole Funkhouser (.330 avg., .952 OPS, 63 R, 62 H, 13 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 54 RBI, 35 BB, .452 OB%, 25 SB), and Cole Kreisel (.331 avg., 1.035 OPS, 58 R, 49 H, 11 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 32 RBI, .520 SLG%, 25 BB, .515 OB%, 20 SB), catcher Kaleb Ceola (.400 avg., 1.116 OPS, 20 R, 32 H, 5 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 17 RBI, .588 SLG%, 18 BB, .528 OB%, 4 SB), and outfielders Evan Vienhage (.390 avg., 1.045 OPS, 14 R, 30 H, 7 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 20 RBI, .584 SLG%, 9 BB, .461 OB%, 3 SB), Ryker Edwards (.354 avg., .927 OPS, 33 R, 52 H, 6 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 25 RBI, .503 SLG%, 20 BB, .424 OB%, 11 SB), Drew Veatch (.314 avg., .814 OPS, 33 R, 38 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 19 BB, .401 OB%, 26 SB), Brock Kobel (.310 avg., .886 OPS, 35 R, 52 H, 13 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 36 RBI, 28 BB, .423 OB%, 12 SB), and Kaiden Ashton (.353 avg., .907 OPS, 40 R, 54 H, 8 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 39 RBI, 34 BB, .456 OB%, 15 SB).
On the mound, Central Missouri is led by left-handers Sawyer Allen (8-2, 2.37 ERA, 1 CG, 87.1 IP, 65 H, 32 R, 23 ER, 24 BB, 83 SO, .205 opp. avg.) and Chris Massey (3-1, 4.09 ERA, 3 SV, 33.0 IP, 26 H, 22 R, 15 ER, 18 BB, 46 SO, .211 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, 4.10 ERA, 6 SV, 41.2 IP, 39 H, 22 R, 19 ER, 19 BB, 24 SO, .247 opp. avg.).
Through 56 contests, the Mules are hitting .324 while holding opponents to .227. The Central Missouri pitching staff has a 4.46 ERA in 472.2 innings pitched, while the Mules' opponents have an ERA of 8.20 in 459.2 innings.
In NCAA-II postseason play, Central Missouri is hitting .345 and has a 2.43 team ERA. The UCM pitching staff has allowed just 17 earned runs on 51 hits, with 46 strikeouts in 63 innings in the Mules' seven 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 (194), fourth in triples (24), fifth in fielding percentage (.979), sixth in sacrifice flies (41), ninth in WHIP (1.36), 14th in strikeouts per nine innings (9.0), and 15th in ERA (4.46). Individually, Allen is eighth in WHIP (0.96), Kreisel is second in hit-by-pitch (31), and Hollister is 12th in doubles (22).

Sawyer Allen Earns ABCA/Rawlings and D2CCA Second Team All-America Honors (ABCA Release / D2CCA Release)

Starting pitcher Sawyer Allen earned both American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings and D2CCA Second Team All-America accolades.
Allen is the 25th ABCA Second Team All-American in program history. He is the 22nd Mule to earn D2CCA All-America recognition.
He also garnered First Team All-Central Region honors as a starting pitcher from the NCBWA, D2CCA, and ABCA, and was a First Team All-MIAA honoree.

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: Kaleb Ceola: 8 games; Evan Vienhage: 7 games; Grant Hollister: 6 games; Cole Kreisel: 4 games
On-Base Streaks: Grant Hollister: 15 games; Brock Kobel: 14 games; Kaleb Ceola: 8 games; Drew Veatch: 8 games; Evan Vienhage: 7 games; Jackson Helberg: 6 games; Lincoln Stephenson: 5 games; Cole Kreisel: 4 games

Swiping Bases

Entering Tuesday, the Mules have stolen 194 bases in 230 attempts. That ranks third in NCAA Division II and is just three shy of tying the program record for stolen bases in a season (197 in 2024).

Series History vs. UT Tyler

This will be just the second meeting in the all-time series on the baseball diamond between the Mules and Patriots. UT Tyler won the first meeting on Friday evening in UCM's opening game of the NCAA-II World Series, 8-3.

UCM During the Crookes Era

Kyle Crookes has a 486-163 (.749) record in his 12th season as head coach at Central Missouri.
Crookes is the winningest coach in Mules Baseball history with his 486 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, 18 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 2,244-849-9 record in 3,102 games played.
The Mules have won 40 or more games 25 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 Central Missouri defeats UT Tyler on Tuesday, it'll keep its 2026 season alive and advance to the World Series semifinals against No. 1-seeded West Chester on Wednesday, June 3, at 12:30 p.m. CT (1:30 p.m. ET) in Cary. A loss would wrap up UCM's season.

Print Friendly Version