Michigan Baseball: Wolverines hope to pitch themselves past Texas Tech

Michigan baseball is in a really good position with its pitching staff heading into the national semifinals against Texas Tech Friday and here’s why.

There are lots of reasons why the Michigan baseball team is one win away from playing for the national championship — chief among them is pitching.

Erik Bakich is a great head coach and the defense, as well as the timely hitting, has been fantastic. But more than any of those things, the pitching is why Michigan baseball will take the field Friday afternoon against Texas Tech with a chance to reach the championship of the College World Series.

It will be the second meeting in six days between the two teams, who opened the College World Series in Omaha last Saturday. The Wolverines, led by starter Karl Kauffmann, beat the Red Raiders by the score of 5-3.

Michigan then beat Florida State to reach the semifinals 2-0. Texas Tech had to win back-to-back games over Arkansas and FSU to reach this point, but it did and the Red Raiders will trot out Micah Dallas who faced Michigan baseball last week.

He was 7-0 according to 247 sports before the Wolverines got to him and scored four runs. Kauffman started the game for Michigan and could start again Friday according to Bakich, who said the Wolverines have a bunch of options.

“We are in a good position because of the two quality starts we got from Karl and Tommy,” Bakich said to 247 sports. “We have Jeff Criswell who’s available to start Friday, we also have Karl Kauffmann who’s available to start Friday. I think we’ll figure that out in the next few days.”

Of course, Kauffmann and Henry have each won a start in the College World Series and the idea of pitching them again back-to-back, with Criswell available for relief is tempting. If Texas Tech wins Friday, the second, winner-take-all game between the two teams would be Saturday.

Both teams come in having won two in a row, yet, Texas Tech has had to play Saturday, Monday and Wednesday, while UM has been off his Monday, which essentially puts all pitching options on the table for Bakich.

Beating Texas Tech won’t be easy, however, the odds favor the Wolverines. It will be interesting to see who starts on the mound. Criswell, Kauffmann and Henry have all struck out more than 100 batters, so either way, the Wolverines have some attractive options.

And ultimately, if they end up in the final of the College World Series, they will have their pitchers to thank.