Michigan Baseball: What beating FSU would mean in College World Series

Michigan baseball started 1-0 in the College World Series with a win Saturday and by beating Florida State Monday night, UM would be in the driver’s seat.

Before Saturday, it had been 35 years since Michigan baseball had played in the College World Series. But after a 5-3 win over Texas Tech, the Wolverines aren’t just happy to be in Omaha, they are there to win it.

And with a win, Monday night in Omaha over its second opponent, Florida State, Michigan baseball would take a gigantic step towards competing for the national championship.

If you don’t know much about college baseball, there is a lot on the line tonight. Getting to 1-0 in the College World Series is huge, but getting to 2-0 is even more important.

For one, it would mean that Michigan baseball won’t have to play again until Friday night, giving the pitching staff a chance to rest, while Florida State would go into the loser’s bracket, having to deal with the winner of Texas Tech and Arkansas before getting another shot at UM.

Even then, if Michigan won tonight, whichever team emerged from the loser’s side of things would need to beat the Wolverines twice to make the championship series. UM, on the other hand, would need just one win, just as in the regional and super regional.

If the Wolverines lose tonight, they will turn around and face Texas Tech or Arkansas, needing to win that game for another shot at the Seminoles. Then, Michigan would need to win back-to-back games over FSU to advance.

So whatever team wins tonight will be one win shy of playing for the national championship, while the losing team must win three straight. It really is that simple.

For Michigan baseball and head coach Erik Bakich, left-handed ace Tommy Henry (10-5, 3.54 ERA) will be on the mound tonight against the Noles. He leads UM in strikeouts and has done a great job of eating up innings on the mound.

In Florida State, the Wolverines will face another team that was among the last four teams in the NCAA tournament. The Seminoles, coached by the legendary Mike Martin, have been the model of consistency, but they are also looking for their first 2-0 start at the CWS in 30 years.

Martin has had kind things to say about Michigan, telling Seminoles.com that he “marveled” in the way the Wolverines went to LA and beat the top-seeded UCLA Bruins.

“Michigan is a heck of a baseball team,” Martin said. “You don’t do what they’ve done if they’re not a heck of a baseball team.”

Florida State is also a very good team and the Noles are 6-0 so far in the tournament, while UM is 6-2. Tonight though, the only record that matters is 2-0 and both teams have a shot to get there.