Despite having the bases loaded with one out in both the eighth and ninth innings, the Manhattan College Jaspers couldn't complete a four-run comeback and had their run in the 2011 NCAA Baseball Tournament come to an end Saturday afternoon with a 5-4 loss to Jacksonville State in the Gainesville Regional.The loss is the Jaspers second in two days and knocks them out of the double-elimination tournament.
The Jaspers, who trailed 5-1 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, scored a run in the seventh and eighth to cut the deficit to 5-3. In the bottom of the ninth, Manhattan filled the bases with one out, scored a run on a throwing error, but Jacksonville State relief pitcher Chris Kaminski struck out both Austin Sheffield and Kyle Murphy to end the game.
Manhattan's starting pitcher Eric Luksis struggled tossing 5 1/3 innings allowing four earned runs on five hits. Relief pitcher Mike Giordano allowed just one run and a hit in 3 2/3 innings. Left fielder Anthony Vega and shortstop Nick Camastro each went 3-for-4. Vega had two RBI, while Camstro had one.