Michigan heading to the College World Series Finals after a 15-3 punking of No. 8 Texas Tech becoming the first Big Ten team to head to the Finals since 1966.
Starter Karl Kauffmann shook off some early control issues and settled in nicely for the Wolverines going six strong innings allowing three runs on six hits while striking out two. He did walk four batters which helped result in a Texas Tech lead in the second. However the early tit-for-tat ended up in Michigan’s favor as Kauffmann finished his outing with four straight scoreless innings and the Wolverines taking the lead in home half of the second while not looking back.
Offensively sophomore outfielder Jesse Franklin and senior first baseman Jimmy Kerr tore it up at the plate with Franklin going 3-for-5 with four RBI and Kerr going 4-for-6 with two home runs. Remarkably though Michigan continued to be a dangerous team with their backs to the wall in an inning as the Wolverines have scored 16 of their 20 runs in the College World Series with two outs.
Michigan will now play the winner of the the Vanderbilt and Louisville game. If Vanderbilt wins tonight then the Wolverines will take on will take on the Commodores. If the Cardinals however win tonight a deciding game Saturday will be played for the right to play Michigan next week in the Finals from Omaha.
