Wolverines strike early, win opener

Stage fright was no factor for a Michigan baseball program that’s in the College World Series for the first time in 35 years. The Wolverines just kept doing what they’ve been doing since the NCAA tournament started.

“Pitching, defense, timely hitting seems to be the recipe of the postseason,” coach Erik Bakich said.

The Wolverines got all three once again Saturday in Omaha.

Jimmy Kerr’s first triple in two years helped build an early lead, Karl Kauffmann pitched seven strong innings and the Wolverines opened their first CWS appearance since 1984 with a 5-3 victory over Texas Tech.

Coming off a super regional where they knocked off No. 1 seed UCLA, the Wolverines (47-20) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Jordan Brewer.

They added to the lead in the third when Kerr hit a two-out, two-run triple. The triple was Kerr’s first in 112 games since April 2017, and he came home on Blake Nelson’s single to make the score 4-0.

Brian Klein’s homer cut the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the inning, and the Red Raiders (44-19) were within a run 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.

Michigan will face Florida State in a winners’ bracket game Monday while Texas Tech will take on Arkansas in an elimination game.

Florida State 1, Arkansas 0: Drew Parrish limited Arkansas to five hits in eight innings and J.C. Flowers scored on a sacrifice fly in the ninth to give the Seminoles (42-21) the win.

Parrish and Arkansas starter Isaiah Campbell engaged in a classic pitchers’ duel sprinkled with outstanding defensive plays, neither team budging until Florida State broke through against reliever Casey Scroggins in the last inning.

Arkansas (46-18), which scored 30 runs in its three super regional games, was shut out for only the second time this season.