OMAHA, Neb. — In the days leading up to the 2019 College World Series, the Michigan baseball team received video messages from some of the school’s most famous alumni, including New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, and even non-alumni connected to their baseball program, like former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.

But just before Friday’s matchup against Texas Tech, standing one win away from the College World Series finals, they received one from a figure who is considered to be their ‘savior’ by junior outfielder Jordan Brewer: Country music superstar Kenny Chesney.

Omaha was where the Wolverines’ underdog run through the NCAA tournament almost ended before it began, as the Wolverines were down to their final strike against Illinois in the Big Ten tournament before walking off with a win. Before the tournament, the team attended a Chesney concert across the street from TD Ameritrade Park, which was said to loosen up the bunch.

Three weeks later — with only a few days in Ann Arbor mixed in — and the Wolverines are still loose. They are still hitting, still pitching, still playing solid defense. And after a 15-3 drubbing over Texas Tech, they will stick around Omaha for at least a few days longer: For the first time in school history, the Wolverines are headed to the College World Series finals. (The CWS added a best-of-three champiponship series in 2003.)

Keyed by six solid innings from junior right-hander Karl Kauffmann, coupled with another relentless offensive attack, U-M left no doubt in officially avenging their early-season sweep to Texas Tech, by eliminating them with ease.

They now await the winner of Vanderbilt and Louisville for their final opponent of the season, in a best-of-three series beginning Monday night. Vanderbilt only needs to win one of two potential games against Louisville to clinch their spot.

For a third straight game, the Wolverines played better baseball than their opponents. They jumped out to a two-run lead in the bottom of the first inning, responded to three Texas Tech runs in the top of the second with two more in the bottom half, then two more in the third inning, one in the fourth and finally, a knockout blow of five runs in the sixth.

U-M totaled 13 hits and walked 11 times. Sophomore outfielder Jesse Franklin and senior first baseman Jimmy Kerr starred, with the former going 3-for-5 with four RBI and the latter going 4-for-6 with two home runs, but the offensive effort was once again underscored by the team’s ability to grind out at-bats and make their opponents work for outs.