OMAHA, Neb. — The University of Michigan baseball team used early offense and solid pitching performances from starter Karl Kauffmann and Jeff Criswell to defeat No. 8-ranked Texas Tech, 5-3, on Saturday afternoon (June 15) in the opening game of the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park.
Texas Tech (44-19) had two men on base and brought the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs, but Criswell got a big strikeout to end the game.
The Wolverines stay in the winner’s portion of the bracket and will play again on Monday (June 17) at 6 p.m. CDT against the winner of tonight’s Arkansas-Florida State contest.
A full CBD Gallery from the game is available by clicking here.
Michigan (47-20) chased Texas Tech starter Micah Dallas (7-1) after three innings and handed the freshman ace his first loss of the year. The Red Raider bullpen held the Wolverines to just one run on two hits over the next six innings.
Sophomore designated hitter Jordan Nwogu led off the game with a base hit through the left side and moved to second on a passed ball before advancing to third on a groundout to second base. A Jordan Brewer sacrifice fly to right field scored Nwogu and put Michigan on the board early, 1-0.
Following a scoreless second inning, Michigan rallied in the top of the third beginning with a two-out, full count walk to sophomore Jesse Franklin and a base hit from Brewer. Dallas then had Franklin picked off second base, but a dropped ball gave the Wolverines new life. With two runners on, senior captain Jimmy Kerr ripped a two-run triple down the right-field line and both runners scored to put the Wolverines ahead, 3-0. The two-out rally continued with Michigan’s next hitter, as senior Blake Nelson dropped a base hit into short left field that scored Kerr for a 4-0 U-M lead.
The Red Raiders answered in the bottom of the frame with an single followed by a two-run home run that just cleared the wall in right-center field from Brian Klein to cut the Michigan lead to 4-2.
Michigan put a man on base in each of the first five innings, but a 1-2-3 sixth gave Texas Tech some needed momentum. An infield single followed by a double down the left-field line gave the Red Raiders two men in scoring position and an RBI groundout cut the Michigan lead to 4-3.
The Maize and Blue got one back in the top of the seventh. Franklin led off with a walk — his second of the day — and took second base on a passed ball one out later. Nelson then sent a hard ground ball to the shortstop, whose errant throw bounced just short of the first baseman and got away, scored Franklin and the Wolverines extended their lead to 5-3.
The Red Raiders put runners on base in the eighth and ninth innings, but could not manufacture any runs as Criswell picked up four strikeouts.
Junior righty Karl Kauffmann (11-6) earned the win after he allowed three runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and no walks over seven innings and 101 pitches. Head coach Erik Bakich worked usual game-two starter Jeff Criswell in relief for the eighth and ninth innings and the right-hander earned his second save of the season.
Saturday’s victory is Michigan’s first at the College World Series since 1983. The Wolverines advanced to Omaha in 1984, but went 0-2 with losses to Fullerton and New Orleans.
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