Lander Athletics: While the state-of-the-art Stephen B. Dolny Stadium was being built earlier this decade, architects of the Lander University baseball program envisioned a moment like what unfolded in the middle of the diamond deep in the night on Monday morning.
As Lander recorded the final out at 1:34 a.m. to clinch the school’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Division II College World Series, the Bearcats spilled onto the field for a celebratory “dog pile” in front of a boisterous, appreciative crowd.
In just its third year in the impressive new stadium, the Lander baseball program which had never been to an NCAA Tournament during its 14 years at historic Legion Field had achieved one of the ultimate milestones of college baseball.
Next Saturday in Cary, N.C., the Bearcats can begin chasing THE ultimate goal.
Lander ace Dylan Wolchik retired 19 consecutive batters from the third through eighth innings and Erik Lunde hit a key home run as the top seed and nationally second ranked Bearcats beat No. 3 seed Columbus State University 5-2 to win the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional championship and a trip to the College World Series.
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