Scott Guillerault Third Base Wheaton College

Andy Koocher First Base Wheaton College

Adam Laplante Catcher Wheaton College

Josh Moore Josh Moore Wheaton College

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Scott Guillerault and Adam Laplante hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the seventh inning that helped catapult Wheaton College (Mass.) one step closer to its first national title Monday.

In all, the Lyons (41-9) scored five unearned runs in the seventh en route to eliminating Montclair State University (N.J.) (35-19-2) from the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship at Fox Cities Stadium with a convincing 13-4 victory over the Red Hawks.

"I think the game was over at that point because of what transpired," admitted Montclair State University head coach Norm Schoenig in reference to the fateful seventh frame.

Trailing 4-1, Montclair State University's Michael Vicaro relieved starting pitcher Jay Cook to begin the seventh inning. Vicaro, who was one of the stars of the Red Hawks' 7-2 opening round win over Aurora University, retired the first two batters he faced but issued a walk to Lyons leadoff hitter Rafael Castillo.

Then back-to-back fielding errors led to another Wheaton College run before Guillerault blasted his three-run tape measure shot to deep left field.

"We gave them five outs, but unfortunately in between out two and out five they got five runs," said Schoenig whose team finished in fourth place, which is quite the turnaround from a 15-24 overall record a season ago.

Although Guillerault's home run may not have single-handedly won the game for Wheaton College - which is making its first NCAA Championship appearance in its nine years of existence - it did afford head coach Eric Podbelski from having to go to his bullpen earlier in the contest, a major advantage for a team that is clawing its way through the loser's bracket.

"Extending the lead and keeping the pressure on also allows you to extend your starting pitcher a little bit longer and have him chew up some innings," said Podbelski. "If it stays a three-run game, then we probably have to use two or three of our set-up guys. Being able to keep enough good, fresh arms ready to pitch is going to determine whether you have a shot to win [a national championship] or not."

More Montclair State University miscues led Wheaton College to plate four more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to make the score 13-1. However, the Red Hawks were not ready to pack it up quite yet as they rallied for three runs in their last at bats, including a solo home run by Brian Butler.

The comeback, although modest, was an example of the resolve that seemed to define the 2006 version of the Red Hawks.

"As far as what they've accomplished, this group has produced more than any team I've been associated with or maybe even in the history of Montclair State University, said Schoenig, "and three teams (1987, 1993, 2000) have won national championships."

As for the Lyons, they will play Chapman University (Calif.) (33-12) later today for the right to face Marietta College (Ohio) in the championship round on May 30. Podbelski understands it would be quite the accomplishment for his program to get into the championship game, but that's not where the focus of his team lies right now.

"Honestly, we're not thinking about that yet," Podbelski said. "We knew coming in that it was a great accomplishment for us and whatever happened at some point we'd look back on this as a very successful step. But you can't reflect until afterwards. And it's not afterwards yet."

By Luke LeNoble
Edgewood College Sports Information Director

Photography by Lehigh Photo