KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced new Athletes of the Week from the fifth week of the 2026 baseball season. Pittsburg State’s Degan Brewer earned the Gorillas’ first Hitter of the Week award of the season and Missouri Southern’s Michael Mulhollon collected the Lions’ first Pitcher of the Week honor of the season.
MIAA HITTER OF THE WEEK: Dagen Brewer, Pittsburg State
Dagen Brewer hit an amazing .857 on the week, collecting 12 hits in 14 at-bats while leading No. 2 Pittsburg State to four MIAA victories. The Topeka native smacked three doubles and four home runs on the week, scoring 13 runs, slugging 1.929 and driving in 12 runs. He also drew five walks (four intentional) and compiled an .895 on-base percentage. Brewer went 4-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI in the Gorillas 20-2 win over Newman on Feb. 24. He hit 4-for-5 with four runs scored, two doubles, two home runs and six RBI in Pitt State's 17-2 road win over Arkansas-Fort Smith last Friday (Feb. 27). He also went 3-for-3 with four runs scored, a home run and three RBI in a 30-3 win over the Lions on Saturday. Brewer extended his MIAA record consecutive game hitting streak to 37 games. He's currently hitting .567 (34-for-60) with 10 doubles, eight homers and 41 RBI on the season.
MIAA PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Michael Mulhollon, Missouri Southern
Michael Mulhollon collected a career-high 10 strikeouts while earning the win in Missouri Southern’s 11-1 series finale victory against Northeastern State. Pitching five innings against the RiverHawks, the junior gave up zero hits with no runs scored for a 0.00 ERA, helping the Lions to the series sweep over NSU at home.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
MIAA HITTERS
Brayden Luikart, Missouri Southern
Brayden Luikart hit .727 (1.545 SLG%, .786 OB%) on eight hits with six runs, a double, a triple, two homers and two RBI as the Lions swept their MIAA series with Northeastern State. Luikart had a hit in each of the three games and has hit safely in each of the last five contests (seven-game reached base streak). He opened the series with the Riverhawks going 5-for-5 with three runs, a homer and three stolen bases. Luikart went 1-for-2 in game two against the RiverHawks with a double, a walk and a hit by pitch. He concluded the series, 2-for-4 in the finale, with three runs, a triple, a homer and another HBP.
Tyler Nelson, Rogers State
Tyler Nelson was phenomenal at the plate for the Hillcats in the 3-0 series against Fort Hays State. The senior infielder slashed .583/.667/.1.250 with eight RBI, seven hits, six runs and three walks. He also added four extra-base hits with two home runs and a pair of doubles, and hit a grand slam in the series-opener against the Tigers. He also added two stolen bases in the series.
Cole Kreisel, Central Missouri
Cole Kreisel helped No. 4 Mules Baseball to a 4-0 week, including a three-game MIAA series sweep of Newman. The sophomore hit .636 with seven hits in 11 at-bats, to go along with eight runs, five RBI, one homer, three walks, three stolen bases in three attempts, and just two strikeouts. Kreisel went 4-for-4 with two runs and an RBI in the Mules’ 16-11 game one win over Newman last Friday (Feb. 27) before going 1-for-3 with a grand slam in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Jets. His grand slam ended the game via the 10-run rule in the seventh inning as UCM won 11-0. He finished the weekend 2-for-3 with two runs as the Mules defeated the Jets 10-0 for the MIAA series sweep.
MIAA PITCHERS
Colby Deaver, Emporia State
Colby Deaver got the start in game two of the Hornets’ MIAA series against Northwest Missouri, picking up where he left off in his first four starts this season. The defending MIAA Pitcher of the Week threw 8.0 shutout innings while allowing just four hits and striking out six with no walks. He now has totaled 31.0 innings this season through his first five starts without an earned run and has 41 strikeouts to just two walks.
Cole Evans, Missouri Western
Cole Evans delivered a dominant outing on the mound for Griffon Baseball in a 10-0 win over Central Oklahoma on Feb. 26. Evans tossed a complete-game shutout, going 7.0 innings while allowing seven hits and no runs. He walked none and struck out five, keeping Central Oklahoma off balance throughout the afternoon. Evans also hit three batters but worked out of any potential trouble to preserve the shutout. The right-hander needed just 94 pitches to secure the victory. He allowed only one extra-base hit and limited Central Oklahoma to scattered singles, never surrendering a run in the run-rule victory. Evans’ efficient performance anchored the Griffons to a decisive conference win and set the tone for the series.
ALSO NOMINATED:
HITTERS – Luke Parmentier [Missouri Western], Frank Gall [Northwest Missouri], Tony Moore [Fort Hays State], Drake Lee [Central Oklahoma], Xavier Sanchez [Northeastern State]
PITCHERS – Sawyer Allen [Central Missouri], Logan Brasel [Northwest Missouri], Spencer Hatch [Rogers State], Thomas Brownfield [Northeastern State], Tucker Russell [Fort Hays State], Braxton Jones [Central Oklahoma]
WEEK ONE HITTER: Derek Woolwine, Fort Hays State
WEEK ONE PITCHER: Colby Deaver, Emporia State
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WEEK TWO HITTER: Landin Midgett, Pittsburg State
WEEK TWO PITCHER: Cole Evans, Missouri Western
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WEEK THREE HITTER: Drake Lee, Central Oklahoma
WEEK THREE PITCHERS: Braxton Jones, Central Oklahoma and Colby Deaver, Emporia State
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WEEK FOUR HITTER: Noah Steele, Emporia State
WEEK FOUR PITCHER: Colby Deaver, Emporia State
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WEEK FIVE HITTER: Noah Steele, Emporia State
WEEK FIVE PITCHER: Colby Deaver, Emporia State