Lincoln, Neb. (June 4, 2006)-Making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1957, Manhattan Baseball opened play at the Lincoln Regional with a 4-1 win over the #6 nationally seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers, before dropping an 8-2 decision to Miami in the Winner's Bracket. Manhattan continued play at the four-team, double-elimination tournament on Sunday, June 4 as the Jaspers beat San Francisco, 6-4, to advance to the first Regional Final in school and MAAC history. The Jaspers get a rematch with Miami, with the pre-game show beginning at 6:55 p.m. Manhattan must beat the Hurricanes twice to win the Regional. GoJaspers.com is your source for following the Jaspers live throughout regional play.
Partnering with Stretch Internet Broadcasting, GoJaspers.com is offering a live audio play-by-play broadcast of all Jasper tournament games. Manhattan play-by-play announcer Ed Cohen has accompanied the team to Lincoln and will paint the word picture, with Sports Information Director Michael Antonaccio and George Kuzma '94 providing color analysis. Live stats are also available for every one of the weekend's games. NET and Husker.com have joined forces to provide a live video feed for all of Nebraska's games during the tournament with the first one being the tourney opener against the Jaspers.
Find all the links you need listed below:
Click Here for Manhattan Gamenotes
NCAA Lincoln Regional Homepage on Huskers.com
Click Here for Live Stats of Manhattan-Miami Game
GoJaspers.com Audio Play-By-Play Broadcasts
2006 NCAA Championship Bracket
Nebraska Baseball Homepage
Miami Baseball Homepage
San Francisco Baseball Homepage
Hawks Field at Haymarket Park Homepage
Manhattan earned its automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals and first ever MAAC Championship with a 7-3 win over top-seeded Le Moyne in the Championship Round of the MAAC Tournament, held May 25-27 at Dutchess County Stadium in Fishkill, N.Y. Manhattan, the second seed, defeated third seeded Rider, 5-0, in the opener, before defeating Le Moyne, 3-2, in a winner's bracket game. The Jaspers used just four pitchers the whole weekend, with their three starters, Jesse Darcy, Chris Cody, and Josh Santerre, working 26 of the possible 27 innings.
Manhattan, which enters the Regional having won its last four games, and 11 of its last 12, had four players named to the All-MAAC First Team in seniors Cody, John Fitzpatrick, junior Nick Derba, and sophomore Matt Rizzotti. Cody also received MAAC Pitcher of the Year honors.
Nebraska enters the regional at the #6 national seed, and is ranked #12 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Poll. Miami, which is playing in its 34th consecutive NCAA Tournament, is ranked #21 nationally, while the Dons of San Francisco are making their first NCAA appearance, fell out of the national rankings this week.
