The Panthers opened the 2026 campaign on Friday, playing at Mid-State Athletic Conference rival Cayuga Community College. The Spartans, who had already played eight games coming into the day, took both games from the Panthers, 9-6 and 12-2.

Game One: Cayuga 9, Tompkins Cortland 6

The season started well, with the Panthers scoring two runs in the top of the first inning to take the lead against a very strong Cayuga team. After the Spartans responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, the Panthers plated two more runs in the top of the second, regaining the lead. It was again a short-lived lead, as Cayuga scored twice in the bottom of the inning to lead 5-4. After a scoreless third, Cayuga broke things open with three runs in the fourth to lead 8-4. A two-run rally in the sixth brought the Panthers within two at 8-6, but Cayuga added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, and after TC3 couldn't score in the seventh, the final was 9-6.

Logan Meerburg, Parker Seeley, and Aiden Huften each had two hits in the opener for the Panthers.

Game Two: Cayuga 12, Tompkins Cortland 2 (six innings)

The nightcap was scoreless into the third inning, and the Panthers trailed just 4-2 after five innings, but couldn't get out of the sixth as Cayuga scored eight times to end the game by the run rule.

Dominic Zona had two hits in game two and Huften hit the first home run of the season for the Panthers.

Looking ahead

The Panthers host Hudson Valley Community College for a doubleheader on Sunday at the Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex in Cortland.