Michigan Jumps Out Early, Kauffmann-Criswell Combo Holds Off Texas Tech at CWS

Saturday, June 15

Omaha, Neb.

1:00 PM CT

Michigan

47-20

Texas Tech

44-19

Michigan

Texas Tech

Jimmy Kerr

Michigan Jumps Out Early, Kauffmann-Criswell Combo Holds Off Texas Tech at CWS

6/15/2019 6:29:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Katie Gwinn Hewitt

» Texas Tech had the go-ahead run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, but Jeff Criswell got a strikeout to end the game.
» The Wolverines handed Texas Tech starter Micah Dallas his first loss of the season.
» Michigan will play again Monday (June 17) against Florida State, a 1-0 Saturday winner over Arkansas.

Site: Omaha, Neb. (TD Ameritrade Park)
Event: NCAA College World Series
Score: Michigan 5, #8 Texas Tech 3
Records: U-M (47-20), TTU (44-19)
Next Game: Monday, June 17 -- vs. Florida State - College World Series (Omaha, Neb.), 6 p.m. CDT

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 NCAA 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 winners' portion of the bracket and will play again on Monday (June 17) against Florida State at 6 p.m. CDT. FSU scored a run in the top of the ninth inning to defeat Arkansas, 1-0, in Saturday night's game.

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 that scored Kerr for a 4-0 U-M lead.

The Red Raiders answered in the bottom of the frame with a single followed by a two-run home run from Brian Klein that just cleared the wall in right-center 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, scoring Franklin and extending the Wolverines' 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 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 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 Cal State Fullerton and New Orleans.