CARY, N.C — And we’ve got one half of the Division II championship game, as Emporia State (Kan.) downed top-ranked UC San Diego with a walk-off homer, 5-3.

The hero for the day? Kellen Lane, senior left fielder. The kid wasn’t exactly a slugger coming into the game, batting .290/.355/.336. He came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with the go-ahead run on board, just looking for a base hit, a fastball outside to put in play.

He got a breaking ball inside, and somehow, adjusted his swing to make contact — and boy what contact. Lane’s first career home run couldn’t have come at a better time, and sends his Hornets into the championship game.

Now, Emporia State just has to wait on the winner of Belmont Abbey (N.C.) and Lynn (Fla.). Should Belmont Abbey win tonight, the two teams will play again Friday.

But for the moment, there’s lightning in the area, and as much as I love blogging, I’m not trying to die in this metal tent in Cary. Drama all around at the D-II World Series.