Little Falls, NJ - SCOTT ALLAN trotted in from the bullpen, his WWF theme music blaring in the background, ready to unleash his energy behind every fastball he fired off. The problem was Montclair State southpaw's initial pitches were sailing all over the place. High. Wide. This was just like his last performance against William Paterson four weeks ago.

Of course, early-game anxiety attacks are not uncommon with Allan. During that last outing against William Paterson, he recalled barely being able to catch his breath during the 10-minute van ride from MSU to Wayne.

Thursday afternoon, he walked four batters and plunked another through the first three frames, basically giving William Paterson every opportunity to knock off the No. 5 team in Division III. Only after he provided more than a few anxious moments did he take a deep breath, settle down and stifle the Pioneers.

Although MSU coach Norm Schoenig would like his lefty to show more early-game poise, he most certainly was not arguing with the results after the Red Hawks' 8-2 victory over their nearby New Jersey Athletic Conference rivals. Not after Allan finished with 7 1/3 mostly solid innings to improve to 6-0.

"He made big pitches," Schoenig said. "I'd like to see him be a little more settled. He pitched in the national championship game his freshman year. But that's just his personality. He's one of those guys... I'm not looking to change his personality."

Maybe William Paterson (13-13, 8-3 NJAC) would like to alter Allan's personality just a tad. This is the second time in a month he worked his way into early trouble, escaped it like Houdini and left the field with a victory.

In the first inning, he walked two batters. In the third, he issued free passes to two Pioneers and plunked another, putting runners on all the bags. He admitted afterward that, "I just felt like I was rushing myself."

Yet, in both instances, he settled down and managed his way out of both jams by throwing big pitches in big spots.

"We had opportunities to knock them out of the game," WPU coach Jeff Albies said. "I don't know whether to nail our kids or give SCOTT ALLAN credit"

From there, Allan settled down and allowed the Red Hawks (26-3-1, 13-1) to ring up runs, just as they've done all season. Thursday, they did it with their six through nine hitters combining for nine of their 14 hits - shortstop BRIAN ELLERSON went 3-fo-4 with two runs scored - although their lineup is talented enough to do damage during any inning.

In this instance, the floodgates opened in the fourth inning against WPU starter Jason Messina (5-1), when MSU sent 11 hitters to the plate. First baseman and No. 7 hitter FRANK FRANCIA stroked a two-RBI single, followed by run scoring base hits by left fielder and No. 8 batter MARC HOUSER and catcher and No. 9 hitter JEFF SCHRIBER.

"I think we're all good hitters," said Francia, MSU's cleanup hitter last year who went 2-for-4. "We're all quality hitters. Our nine hitter could probably hit third on most teams."

Schriber, MSU's No. 9 hitter who went 3-for-4, said, "Everybody can hit. That's been happening all year for us."

From the opposing dugout, Albies saw this as just one thing that separates the first-place Red Hawks from the fourth-place Pioneers.

"It seems like every kid hits the ball," the coach said. "My hat's off to them."

Another thing that separated the two sides, though, was Allan's poise once he settled down. He breezed through the game's middle three innings, doing so with a peaceful, easy feeling after staring at the scoreboard and seeing how his lineup staked him to a 5-0 lead.

"It's a lot easier when you've got a lead," Allan said. "I pitched more relaxed. I've got all the confidence in the world in my guys."

However, Allan did get into some trouble in the eighth, which led to him leaving after 7 1/3 innings, having allowed three hits and two runs - none while he was in the game - while walking five and fanning eight. Both WPU runs came on run-scoring groundouts in the eighth by catcher Rob Riley and second baseman Dan Torres.