Michigan gets off to strong start with victory over Tech
OMAHA, Neb. — Jimmy Kerr’s first triple in two years helped Michigan build an early lead, and Karl Kauffmann pitched seven strong innings as the Wolverines opened their first College World Series appearance since 1984 with a 5-3 victory over Texas Tech on Saturday.
The last time Michigan made it this far, a team led by future Hall of Famer Barry Larkin went 0-2.
Michigan (47-20), which was swept in a three-game series at Lubbock in March and was winless in seven all-time meetings with the Red Raiders, built a 4-0 lead in the third, and Kauffmann and reliever
Jeff Criswell worked out of trouble when Texas Tech (44-19) threatened.
The Wolverines scored on a sacrifice fly in the first and broke it open in the third when Kerr drove a ball just inside the rightfield line into the corner for a two-out, two-run triple. The triple was
Kerr’s first in 112 games since April 2017, and he then scored on Blake Nelson’s single to make it 4-0.
Brian Klein’s second homer of the season and first since March 10 cut the lead to 4-2 in the bottom half of the inning, and the Red Raiders made it 4-3 in the sixth on an RBI groundout after Josh Jung’s infield single and Cameron Warren’s double.
Michigan got that run back when a wild pitch and Jung’s throwing error from shortstop allowed Jesse Franklin to score.
FLORIDA ST. 1 ARKANSAS 0
Drew Parrish limited the Razorbacks to five hits in eight innings, and J.C. Flowers scored on a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to lift the Seminoles to victory in the second game of the CWS.
Parrish and Arkansas starter Isaiah Campbell engaged in a classic pitcher’s duel sprinkled with outstanding defensive plays, with neither team budging until Florida State (42-21) broke through against reliever Casey Scroggins in the last inning.
The win was the sixth in a row in the NCAA tournament for the Seminoles, who are trying to bring retiring 40th-year coach Mike Martin his first national championship in 17 trips to the CWS.