The Manhattan College Jaspers received a rude welcome to the 2011 NCAA Baseball Tournament Friday, getting shellacked by Florida, 17-3, in a Gainesville Regional opening-round game. Florida, the top seed in the region and the second overall seed in the 64-team field, overwhelmed MAAC champion Manhattan from the start.
Florida scored five runs in the first inning and held a 16-0 lead after just three innings of play. Manhattan starting pitcher John Soldinger suffered the indignity of surrendering 16 of those runs, giving up nine in the first two innings and being charged with seven more in the third without recording an out. Fifteen of the runs were earned.
Manhattan's only bright spot came in the fifth inning when the Jaspers scored all three of their runs.
Manhattan is still alive in the double-elimination regional tournament. The Jaspers will face Jacksonville on Saturday at noon ET (ESPNU). Jacksonville was beaten by Miami (Fla.) on Friday afternoon, 7-2.