Rob Bowness Designated Hitter Montclair State Univ.

John Hopkins Outfield Aurora Univ.

Andrew Vicaro Catcher Montclair State Univ.

Michael Vicaro Pitcher Montclair State Univ.

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Michael Vicaro left Aurora University (Ill.) impressed and a bit befuddled on Friday.

In an opening game at the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship at Fox Cities Stadium, the Montclair State University (N.J.) pitcher struck out a career-high 15, as the Red Hawks beat Aurora, 7-2.

Montclair State University (34-17-2) advances to play at 7:45 p.m. on Saturday against the winner of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point-Marietta College (Ohio) game, which was being played late Friday evening. Aurora University (34-13) takes on the loser of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point-Marietta College game at 1:15 p.m. on Saturday.

"We're typically a pretty aggressive team and for us to go down looking, what, seven, eight times … that's way too many," Aurora University head coach Shaun Neitzel said.

"I just thought (Vicaro) was very good, one of the better guys we've seen all year."

Vicaro, who improved to 6-4 on the season, scattered five hits and walked one in going the distance. He allowed an unearned run in the first and a run in the ninth.

Montclair State University pounded out 14 hits and stole six bases to beat Aurora University ace Alex Chapple, who lost for just the second time this season against eight wins.

"He was outstanding," Montclair State University head coach Norm Schoenig said of Vicaro. "His breaking pitch was excellent and he hit his spots with his fastball."

After giving up the unearned run in the top of the first, the Red Hawks started pecking away against Chapple. Michael Nunes led off the bottom of the first with an infield single and stole second. He tied the score on Danny Rodriguez's single.

Montclair State University added a run in the second when Andrew Vicaro, the Red Hawks' catcher and younger brother of Michael, doubled and later scored on a double-play ground ball.

The Red Hawks got two more runs in the third after loading the bases on a single, a walk and a bunt single. Montclair State University then got a pair of run-scoring groundouts to go up 4-1.

At the same time, Michael Vicaro was mowing down the Spartans. He retired 18 of 19 batters between the first and seventh innings, and the only batter to reach came on a hit batsman.

"I think we were all just getting frustrated," said Aurora University center fielder John Hopkins, who had a pair of doubles against Vicaro. "I've been a starter for four years, and I've never seen us look at that many pitches."

Montclair State University added two more runs in the fifth to really take control. Rob Bowness started the rally with a one-out single, and Robert Clark followed with a double. Andrew Vicaro's fielder's choice scored Bowness, and Lou Politan followed with a sharp single to left to score Vicaro, who had stolen second, and the Red Hawks led 6-1.

The Red Hawks led 7-1 heading to the eighth inning, and Michael Vicaro allowed a walk and double in the inning, but he struck out the side to end the threat.

"You just have to try and focus and get the job done," said Michael Vicaro.

It turned out to be a job well done.

By Joe Vanden Acker
Lawrence University Sports Information Director

Photography by Lehigh Photo