OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Stage fright was no factor for a Michigan baseball program that’s in the College World Series for the first time in 35 years. The Wolverines just kept doing what they’ve been doing since the NCAA Tournament started.

“Pitching, defense, timely hitting seems to be the recipe of the postseason,” coach Erik Bakich said. The Wolverines got all three once again Saturday at TD Ameritrade Park. Jimmy Kerr’s first triple in two years helped build an early lead, Karl Kauffmann pitched seven strong innings and the Wolverines opened their first CWS appearance since 1984 with a 5-3 victory over Texas Tech.

The last time Michigan made it this far, a team led by future Hall of Famer Barry Larkin went 0-2. The Wolverines had lost four straight in the CWS since winning their first game in 1983.
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Michigan, a No. 3 regional seed and one of the last four teams awarded at-large bids for the 64-team NCAA Tournament, plays a Bracket 1 winners’ game Monday night against the winner of the Saturday night game between Florida State and Arkansas. Texas Tech meets the Florida State-Arkansas loser on Monday.