Michigan stuns, outlasts Texas Tech 5-3 in CWS opening game

Welp.

I don’t have many words, other than Texas Tech ran into a complete momentum buzzsaw in the Michigan Wolverines. Tip your cap and realize you have to win every game from here on out in the bracket or it’s going home time.

A couple of thoughts:

• Kauffman was nearly perfect today. He brilliantly worked different speeds and looks and the Red Raider offense, simply did not have an answer.
• All the credit to Kauffman, but I am a 31 year old, grey haired, dad and married man. Being bitter online is what I do. I watched every single pitch of this game and, as an avid baseball-watcher, I couldn’t tell you what was a ball or strike, even in the 9th with Brian Klein up with two runners on.
• Tech gave up two unearned runs with two outs in the 4th. That ended up being the difference, if you ask me.
• The offense felt the sting of not having Gabe Holt. Cam Warren, specifically is feeling the hurt, with pitchers willing to pitch to him more often than they would be if he was in the 5-hole.
• Speaking of pitching to hitters, Michigan did a fantastic job of making sure they face Josh Jung with no runners on or at the top of the inning. If there’s a recipe on how to beat Texas Tech, Michigan had it down to a science.
• Outside of the Klein homer, the offense could never get in a groove. And honestly, it really looks like this team has lost whatever spark they found against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. They will have to win every game from here until the the Championship series if they hope to do whatever they set out to do.
• Should they do that, Texas Tech will not only exceed most expectations, but they will join the likes of Oregon State in 2018 and South Carolina in 2010 to lose the first game but win the College World Series.

Let’s make history, boys and girls. On to Monday.