Another Pitching Gem as Michigan Topples The Citadel

Saturday, February 23

Charleston, S.C.

4:00 PM

Michigan

5-0

The Citadel

2-3

Michigan

The Citadel

Karl Kauffmann

2/23/2019 7:20:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Kurt Svoboda

» Karl Kauffmann struck out nine batters against just three hits in eight innings of work.
» The middle of Michigan's batting order collected 11 of the team's 12 hits and all nine RBI.
» Sunday's game time has been moved up to 11 a.m. due to forecasted inclement weather.

Site: Charleston, S.C. (Joe Riley Stadium)
Score: Michigan 9, The Citadel 1
Records: U-M (5-0), The Citadel (2-3)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 24 -- at The Citadel (Charleston, S.C.) 11 a.m.

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Junior Karl Kauffmann turned in another dominating pitching performance for the No. 17-ranked University of Michigan baseball team as the Wolverines toppled The Citadel by a score of 9-1 Saturday evening (Feb. 23) at Joe Riley Stadium.

The middle of Michigan's batting order did most of the damage as the three through seven hitters combined for 11 of the team's 12 hits and all nine runs batted in. Jordan Brewer and Jimmy Kerr had three hits apiece, while Miles Lewis (two hits) and Joe Donovan drove in three runs apiece. Christan Bullock also had two hits to go with three of Michigan's six stolen bases.

Michigan jumped on top with a two-out rally in the opening frame. Brewer singled sharply to leftfield and came all the way around on a double down the leftfield line by Kerr.

Brewer launched a two-out homer in the third inning to make it a 2-0 game. Michigan then threatened several more times, as the Wolverines racked up five stolen bases in the first five innings, but The Citadel was able to get out of several jams and keep the game close. It hardly mattered thanks to the effort Michigan received out of its starting pitcher.

Michigan received another stellar pitching effort, Kauffmann (2-0) was exceptional in his second start of the young season. After striking out 10 in eight innings against Binghamton last week, the hard-throwing righty struck out nine batters Saturday, again allowing just three hits in eight innings of work. Blake Beers pitched the ninth inning, where the home team avoided its second shutout with a two-out run.

It was Brewer and Kerr again causing problems in the seventh. With one out, Brewer reached on catcher's interference and Kerr laced his third hit of the game, a single to center. Lewis then delivered Brewer with an RBI single through the left side for a 3-0 lead to prompt a pitching change. U-M loaded the bases but reliever Ian Foggo got a critical strikeout, leaving Michigan with 11 runners stranded to that point.

Michigan broke the game open in the eighth. The Wolverines loaded the bases with two walks and a single. Kerr then plated a run with an RBI groundout and Lewis sent a two-run double down the leftfield line. Bullock then legged out an infield single and Donovan connected on his second homer of the year, a three-run blast down the left field line for a 9-0 lead.

The teams complete their three-game series on Sunday with the first pitch slated for 11 a.m. (revised from 1 p.m. original time.)