Michigan Baseball: Breaking down the College World Series for Wolverines

Michigan baseball opens the College World Series Saturday against Texas Tech. Here is a breakdown and look at the Wolverines chances in Omaha.

For the first time since the days of Barry Larkin, the Michigan Baseball team is heading to Omaha for the College World Series. They battled their way through the number one-seeded Bruins of UCLA to do so. Now they will get their opportunity to fight for a championship that has eluded the program since 1962.

On Saturday, Michigan baseball will square off with another familiar foe in Texas Tech. In March the Wolverines traveled to Lubbock and lost a three-game series to the Red Raiders. If the Wolverines can pull it out then they would not have to play until Monday night against Arkansas or Florida State. Lose and they will get the one who comes up short in the aforementioned matchup.

Pitching is the key for Michigan to advance. Tommy Henry and Karl Kauffmann have to bring their A+ game as they did in the UCLA series. They combined for over 15 innings pitched with 14 strikeouts in the two victories. In the regular season losses both gave up a total of 16 hits, 12 runs and just under 10 innings thrown between the two.

When the Wolverines are at bat Jordan Nwogu must set the tone as one of the better leadoff hitters out there. Center fielder Jesse Franklin was the most consistent performer in the three defeats to the Red Raiders. He managed three hits, three runs and two RBIs in the series.

Elsewhere the SEC is well represented with fours schools left in the final eight. Vanderbilt and Mississippi State own the best records, while Auburn and Arkansas are the other two. Florida State and Louisville represent the ACC and of course, Texas Tech carries the torch for the Big 12. The Commodores seek their second championship in five years, while the SEC can gain its sixth since 2009. Michigan is the only other club besides Vandy that has won a College World Series according to the NCAA.

A champion will be crowned by June 26 with Michigan attempting to write its own history. It can cement a new legacy for the program and the school altogether. The eyes of the maize and blue faithful will be intent to watch to see if Michigan can earn its first championship in one of the four major sports in over 20 years. Time will be the outlier to see if the Wolverines can pull it off and take home an NCAA championship back to Ann Arbor for the loyal fans who have been yearning for one for what seems like an eternity.