Appleton, WI – Montclair State stayed alive at the NCAA Division 3 baseball championship on Monday with a 1-0 victory over Salisbury State, but the defending champions needed its share of breaks.

A freshman pitcher dominated in an elimination game on a day when Montclair State's offense looked like it may never score a run.

The first time the Red Hawks got a man in scoring position, in the seventh inning, a high-hopping ground ball was inches away from being handled by the third baseman, but bounced off his glove and went into left field instead. And when the runner from second was waved home on the fortuitous single, a poor throw from the outfield and less-than-smooth relay throw allowed CHRIS BARAN to slide in just ahead of the catcher's tag.

Nobody said the Red Hawks wouldn't need some luck if they were to repeat as national champions.

The star of the one-run victory over the Sea Gulls at Fox Cities Stadium was freshman left-hander JEFF GOGAL, who threw a shutout while only allowing seven singles. Only one Salisbury State runner got first base against Goal.

"I just had a though in the back of my head that we were going to win no matter what," Gogal said. "We're a fighting team that wasn't going to back down. I was saying, 'I'll keep them here and we'll score the runs and win the game.' "

The run MSU needed finally came in the seventh inning. SCOTT ALLAN walked to lead off the seventh after Salisbury catcher Mike Russell dropped a foul ball and was given and error. Baran replaced Allan at first base when Allan was forced out at second on Baran's sacrifice bunt attempt.

Baran stole second, and JEFF SCHRIBER chopped a ground ball to third base. Sea Gulss third baseman Mike Harbaught backed up and stretched high for the ball, which bounced off the top of his glove and rolled down the left-field line. Baran was waved home, and scored just ahead of the relay throw home.

"Gogal was throwing a gem of a game and we needed to score some runs to help him along," Schriber said. "There was a guy on second and I was just looking for a pitch to hit.

Montclair State (38-10) will play Marietta (47-8-1) at 2 p.m. Marietta defeated St. Thomas (MN), 8-6 in Monday's other contest.

If the Red Hawks beat Marietta, they would face St. Thomas (38-10) in a winner-take-all national championship game starting at 5:30 p.m. Last year, Montclair State defeated St. Thomas twice on the final day of the World Series to take home the title.

Montclair State coach Norm Schoenig said RYAN COSTELLO, who gave up only one run in a complete-game victory against Chapman University in the Red Hawks' opening game on Friday, will pitch the first game and COREY HAMMAN, who went all 10 innings against Marietta on Saturday and eventually won 2-1, will start the second game if it's necessary.

"It feels good (to make it to the final day), but we have a couple more games to play," Schriber said. "Hopefully after tomorrow we'll feel even better.