Appleton, WI - The combination of Super Glue and Preparation-H holding together the blister on SCOTT ALLAN's left middle finger came undone, so his skin was dangling like Montclair State's hopes in the NCAA Division III World Series.

When the blister became too much to bear, Allan had to leave the game, giving the Red Hawks coach Norm Schoenig no other option but to insert sophmore southpaw COREY HAMMAN to keep Emory (Ga.) at bay Saturday morning.

By scattering only a ninth-inning single during his six-inning stint, Hamman extended the Red Hawks' season for another afternoon, holding off Emory, 5-0, less than 24 hours after their opening-game loss to SUNY-Cortland at Fox Cities Stadium.

Although the loss eliminated Emory, MSU set a school record with 38 victories this season, eclipsing the mark set in 1989 and tied in 1993. The Red Hawks also moved into another elimination title against today's Allegheny-Wartburg loser, a game that was postponed from Saturday due to rain.

"The best part was that we got to play right away," Schoenig said by phone after the game. "Now you've got that feeling that you're in the tournament."

"We're still in it," senior first baseman FRANK FRANCIA said. "I think we all had confidence in ourselves. We just tried to get a win.

To reach that end, MSU (38-7-1) scored a quick run in the first when center fielder FRANK LONGO ripped a double to plate second baseman DAVE WURST. The score remained the same when Allen was forced out because of his raw finger, turning a slim margin for error over to Hamman (7-2).

In his last extended outing, Hamman plunked four batters and allowed seven runs in the Mid-Atlantic Regional against Allentown, which eventually forced the Red Hawks to stage a near-miraculous comeback from a 10-0 deficit. Since then, he has relived his struggles again and again in his head. So when he jogged in from the bullpen, he saw the next six innings as a chance for personal atonement - not to mention one to keep MSU's season alive.

Other than a mini-jam in the eighth, he cruised through his stint, finishing with two walks and four strikeouts. He and Allan picked off two runners apiece.

"He's a confident kid, Schoenig said. "But you know, he bounced back from Allentown just like he did when he had that nightmare of an inning against Millersville in the fifth, then came back and pitched great against N.C. Wesleyan."

With Hamman holding down Emory, the Red Hawks relaxed at the plate and put up four more runs. The big hit came off the bat of junior third baseman CRAIG CONWAY, who roped a two-run double as part of a three-run eighth.

At that point, the Red Hawks knew they would live for another day. Now, the challenge is surviving into Monday - and doing so with pitching-by-committee. Since Hamman was pressed into duty Saturday, Schoenig said he would start sophomore KEVIN RAKOWSKI-KUHLMAN and use him for four innings, followed by either right hander GEORGE GALLAGHER or junior JIM WHALEN in relief, and sophomore shortstop/closer BRIAN ELLERSON to close out the final few frames.

"We're just taking it one game at a time, to be honest with you," Schoenig said. "If we can win tomorrow, that puts you at 2-1 and that puts you back in the tournament. When you're 0-1, the percentages start to weigh against you. When you're 1-1, they're a little better, but they're still against you. When you're 2-1, they're almost back to even."