The bats got hot in game two Sunday as the Tompkins Cortland Community College earned a doubleheader split with Cayuga Community College by taking the nightcap 8-3 after dropping the opener 4-1. The Panthers are now 4-5 overall and 3-3 in East Division games. Cayuga is 9-13 overall and 4-6 in division.
Game One: Cayuga 4, Tompkins Cortland 1
The opener was a game of missed opportunities. Starting with leaving the bases loaded in the first inning, the Panthers went on to strand a total of eight runners on base during the game. Despite a strong effort on the hill from pitcher Ethan Buckley, the Panthers weren't able to string things together enough to offer more than one run of support.
Taj Muhammad (Franklin Township, N.J./Franklin H.S.) had the only extra-base hit for the Panthers in game one, a double as part of a 1-for-3 effort. Luke Ough (Edmeston/Edmeston H.S.) also went 1-for-3, picking up the team's lone RBI.
Buckley well in defeat, yielding six hits and striking out five over six innings of work.
Game Two: Tompkins Cortland 8, Cayuga 3
The frustration of game one was released early in game two. Starting the game, the first three Panthers reached base on a walk and two hits and all three came around to score, putting the Panthers up 3-0 just minutes into the game. The second inning saw another three runs as the Panther banged out five hits, the big one coming in a two-out, two-run double by Muhammad.
While the bats were busting out, pitcher Hyeonho Cho (Daejon, South Korea/Sekwang) was keeping the Spartans off balance and off the scoreboard. He allowed five baserunners through the first six innings, with none making it past second base. By the time the bottom of the seventh rolled around, the Panthers led 8-0, which proved to be more than enough cushion to withstand a last-ditch Cayuga rally that produced three runs.
Buckley had a big game two at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Vinny Perrotta (New Hartford/Vinny Hartford H.S.) went 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot, scoring three times and also blasting a triple. Jayden Jeminson (Brampton, Ont./Louise Arbour H.S.) also went 2-for-4, driving in two with a double. Ough also picked up a pair of hits while Muhammad drove in three.
Cho pitched a complete-game gem to improve to 2-0 on the season. Only two of the runs he allowed were earned, dropping his season ERA to 2.84.
Looking ahead
The Panthers travel to Herkimer College on Tuesday for a doubleheader with the Generals.