Good Guys: Texas Tech Red Raiders (44-18, 16-8)
Bad Guys: Michigan Wolverines (46-20, 16-7); Arkansas Razorbacks (46-18, 20-10); Florida State Seminoles (41-21, 17-13)
When to Watch: Saturday, June 15th – Saturday, June 22nd
Where to Watch: TD Ameritrade Park Omaha | Omaha, Nebraska
How to Watch: ESPN | WatchESPN
How to Listen: 97.3 FM | Affiliates | TuneIn App
Game Notes: Preview | PDF
Live Stats: SideArm Stats
Weather:
The Regional Bracket
News, News, News, News
A-J Media’s Don Williams – Late grandfather inspires hard-throwing Tech pitcher:
McMillon always felt a little sheepish about using the 1961 country song to call attention to himself, but since early April, he’s figured it was the least he could do for his maternal grandfather. “Big Bad John” is what Jasper logger and firefighter Charles Gee always called his grandson, and Gee passed away from cancer on April 3.
“That was what he called me my whole life,” McMillon said, “and he asked me to change my walk-up song to that … or he would joke with me about it. I never wanted to do it, just because …
“But whenever he passed away, I felt like it was a good way to honor his legacy that he left on me and so many other people in Southeast Texas.”
Detroit Free Press’ Orion Sang – Michigan baseball vs. Texas Tech in College World Series: Scouting report:
Michigan coach Erik Bakich believes the Wolverines are a “totally different team,” though.
“There is some familiarity there with Texas Tech,” Bakich said Tuesday in Ann Arbor. “They’ve got a very good team. Very balanced, very complete. Speed, power, star players, good pitching. Deep bullpen.
“But we’re a completely different team since then. We’re confident right now and that’s probably the biggest change in us. We have a little bit more of an identity as a team, we figured out who we are and how we need to play to play our best.”
NCAA – D1Baseball – College World Series: Get to know the Omaha 8:
Quotable: “What I do know is June 26 or 27, you can win the whole thing. We’re five games away from doing that, and that’s a long time. There’s going to be distractions along the way, but it’s usually play a game, take a day, play another game. .. That’s our plan. We plan on playing.” — Tadlock.
NCAA – 8 College World Series storylines that reflect the magic of Omaha:
Storyline: Hail to the Victors. Snow and sleet, too. Trying to stay relevant in college baseball in Michigan winters ain’t easy, which is one reason it’s been 35 years since the Wolverines last showed up in Omaha. But back before the southern and western teams took over this sport, the Big Ten used to be the home of champions. The Wolverines will arrive this week as the only team in town with past multiple national championships, even if those did come in 1953 and ’62. They win again, and conventional wisdom does a back flip. The Big Ten’s last champion was 53 years ago.
ESPN’s Ryan McGee – College World Series: Previewing all 8 teams, key players and more:
Storylines: Tim Tadlock’s team is all about the fundamentals. They score a lot of runs without a ton of homers, their bullpen is nearly bulletproof, and you’re more likely to see a UFO in Lubbock than an awful defensive play. They are particularly tough at home — just ask Oklahoma State, which got swept at Rip Griffin Park in April and went down in the Lubbock Super Regional too. But now the Raiders’ challenge — it’s not a new one — is to figure out how to pack that magic in their luggage and take it to Omaha. The Red Raiders made it to the CWS for the first time in 2014 and are going back for the fourth time. But in their three previous appearances, they are 2-6.
Team Stats
| Texas Tech | Michigan | Arkansas | Florida State | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| avg | .301 | .281 | .301 | .272 |
| slg% | .475 | .448 | .495 | .457 |
| ob% | .405 | .380 | .397 | .398 |
| ERA | 3.90 | 3.47 | 3.92 | 4.55 |
| Oavg | .253 | .226 | .225 | .241 |
| SO/9 | 9.55 | 8.77 | 9.53 | 10.28 |
| BB/9 | 4.09 | 3.83 | 3.72 | 4.38 |
| fld% | .971 | .973 | .972 | .964 |
Key Hitter Stats
| Key Texas Tech Hitters | avg | slg% | ob% | fld% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INF Josh Jung | .342 | .636 | .476 | .975 |
| OF Cody Masters | .302 | .470 | .386 | .870 |
| 1B Cameron Warren | .354 | .664 | .448 | .996 |
| INF Brian Klein | .317 | .425 | .411 | .987 |
| C Braxton Fulford | .292 | .416 | .389 | .988 |
| OF Dylan Neuse | .307 | .518 | .418 | .991 |
| Key Michigan Hitters | avg | slg% | ob% | fld% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF Jordan Brewer | .338 | .586 | .396 | .966 |
| OF Jordan Nwogu | .327 | .580 | .442 | .917 |
| INF Jack Blomgren | .309 | .406 | .418 | .969 |
| INF Blake Nelson | .299 | .398 | .399 | .916 |
| INF Jimmy Kerr | .269 | .475 | .370 | .984 |
| OF Miles Lewis | .266 | .410 | .366 | 1.000 |
| Key Arkansas Hitters | avg | slg% | ob% | fld% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INF/OF Matt Goodheart | .354 | .533 | .452 | 1.000 |
| INF Trevor Ezell | .333 | .573 | .442 | .994 |
| OF Heston Kjerstad | .329 | .574 | .404 | .981 |
| INF Jack Kenley | .319 | .568 | .438 | .976 |
| OF Dominic Fletcher | .317 | .537 | .386 | .988 |
| INF Casey Martin | .288 | .547 | .368 | .910 |
| Key Florida State Hitters | avg | slg% | ob% | fld% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INF Mike Salvatore | .341 | .541 | .430 | .950 |
| OF Robby Martin | .332 | .473 | .414 | 1.000 |
| INF Drew Mendoza | .319 | .620 | .484 | .900 |
| C Nelson Matheu | .277 | .439 | .439 | .996 |
| OF J.C. Flowers | .271 | .511 | .372 | .962 |
| INF Nander De Sedas | .241 | .352 | .365 | .920 |
Probable Starters and Game Recaps
Game 1 – Saturday, June 15th @ 1:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Probable Starters: Texas Tech’s RHP Micah Dallas (7-0, 3.38) vs. Michigan’s RHP Karl Kauffmann (10-6, 2.59)
Final Score: Michigan 5, Texas Tech 3
Winning Pitcher: Karl Kauffmann (11-6); Save: Jeff Criswell (2)
Losing Pitcher: Micah Dallas (7-1)
Key Hitters: Brian Klein 2-5, HR, 1 R, 2 RBI; Braxton Fulford 2-4; Dru Baker 1-4, 1 RBI; Dylan Neuse 1-4, 1 R; Josh Jung 1-4, 1 R
Links: Recap | Box Score
Michigan utilized a three-run third inning Saturday afternoon to top No. 8 Texas Tech, 5-3, in the College World Series opener for both teams at TD Ameritrade Park.
The loss moves the Red Raiders (44-19) to an elimination game Monday afternoon against the loser of tonight’s Arkansas and Florida State opener. Michigan (47-20) will face the winner of that game at 6 p.m. Monday evening.
All three of Michigan’s runs in the third came with two outs as Jimmy Kerr lined a two-run triple down the right field line and Blake Nelson knocked a RBI single into left field. The big inning built a 4-0 lead for the Wolverines after a Jordan Brewer sacrifice fly in the opening frame.
Brian Klein responded in the bottom half of the third, though, as he lifted a 2-2 pitch into the stands in right field for a two-run blast. The home run was Klein’s second of the season and marked only the second for a Red Raider in four appearances now at the College World Series.
Game 2 – Saturday, June 15th @ 6:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Probable Starters: Arkansas’s RHP Isaiah Campbell (12-1, 2.26) vs. Florida State’s RHP CJ Van Eyk (10-3, 3.80)
Final Score: Florida State 1, Arkansas 0
Winning Pitcher: Drew Parrish (9-5), Save: J.C. Flowers (13)
Losing Pitcher: Cody Scroggins (3-1)
Key Hitters: Florida State: Nelson Mathewu 2-3; J.C. Flowers 1-3, 1 R; Nander De Sedas 0-3, 1 RBI; Arkansas: Christian Franklin 2-3; Casey Optiz 1-2; Trevor Ezell 1-4; Dominic Fletcher 1-4
Links: Box Score
Game 3 – Monday, June 17th @ 1:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Probable Starters: Texas Tech’s RHP Caleb Kilian (8-3, 3.93) and Arkansas’ LHP Patrick Wicklander (6-2, 4.32)
Final Score: Texas Tech 5, Arkansas 4
Winning Pitcher: John McMillon (4-3); S: Taylor Floyd (4)
Losing Pitcher: Cody Scroggins (3-2)
Key Hitters: Easton Murrell 1-3, HR, 1 R, 1 RBI; Brian Klein 2-3; Josh Jung 1-4, HR, 2 R, 1 RBI; Cameron Warren 1-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI; Cody Masters 1-4, 1 RBI
Links: Recap | Box Score
Cody Masters crushed a two-out RBI triple off the wall in right center to break up a 4-4 tie in the eighth inning Monday afternoon, sending No. 8 Texas Tech past No. 5 Arkansas, 5-4, at TD Ameritrade Park.
The victory continues Tech’s stay at the College World Series as the Red Raiders (45-19) will move into another elimination Wednesday night against the loser of tonight’s Florida State and Michigan matchup. Arkansas ends its season with the loss, closing the year at 46-20 overall.
Masters’ heroics highlighted a memorable day at the plate for the Red Raiders, who connected on three home runs in the come-from-behind effort. Tech entered the afternoon with two home runs in its nine all-time games at the College World Series, the second of which came via Brian Klein two days earlier against Michigan.
The play most will remember was Masters’ shot to right center, though, as he launched a 3-1 pitch to easily score Cameron Warren all the way from first. Warren, who was running on the pitch, drew a walk to bring up Masters for his first hit of the College World Series.
Game 4 – Monday, June 17th @ 6:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Probable Starters: Michigan’s RHP Jeff Criswell (7-1, 2.68) and Florida State’s RHP CJ Van Eyk (10-3, 3.80)
Final Score: Michigan 2, Florida State 0
Winning Pitcher: Tommy Henry (11-5)
Losing Pitcher: CJ Van Eyk (10-4)
Key Hitters: Michigan: Jesse Franklin 2-4, HR, 1 R, 1 RBI; Jimmy Kerr 1-4, 1 RBI; Florida State: Mike Salvatore 2-4; Matheu Nelson 1-3
Links: Recap | Box Score
Junior starting pitcher Tommy Henry tossed a three-hit complete-game shutout on Monday (June 17) to help lead the University of Michigan baseball team to a 2-0 victory over Florida State in the Wolverines’ second game of the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park.
Game 5 – Wednesday, June 19th @ 6:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Probable Starters: Texas Tech’s RHP Bryce Bonnin (6-1, 4.42) vs. Florida State’s RHP Conor Grady (9-5, 3.64)
Final Score: –
Winning Pitcher: –
Losing Pitcher: –
Key Hitters: –
Links: –
Game 6 – Friday, June 21st @ 12:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Probable Starters: Game 4 Winner and Game 5 Winner
Final Score: –
Winning Pitcher: –
Losing Pitcher: –
Key Hitters: –
Links: –
Game 7 – Saturday, June 22nd (ESPN)
Probable Starters: If Necessary
Final Score: –
Winning Pitcher: –
Losing Pitcher: –
Key Hitters: –
Links: –