Playing host to the #10-ranked team in the country, the Panthers got behind early and couldn't recover in both games, dropping a doubleheader to Hudson Valley Community College 14-2 and 14-4.  TC3 is now 0-4 on the season; it was the season opener for the Vikings.

Game One: Hudson Valley 14, Tompkins Cortland 2 (five innings)

The Vikings opened the game with our runs in the top of the fourth, including three scored with two outs. Another four runs in the second and two more in the fourth made the score 10-0 before the Panthers could mount their first real threat.

In the bottom of the fourth, Keelan Marren led off with a single and Parker Seeley followed with a double. Logan Meerburg brought them in with a single to center, getting the Panthers on a board and cutting the deficit to 10-2. Hudson Valley responded with four in the top of the fifth, providing the final margin in the game that was stopped after five innings.

Domin Zona had the only other hit for the Panthers in game one. Mitch Martini started on the mound and took the loss on the mound, despite striking out three over 1.2 innings. Jake Malkowski also registered three strikeouts while throwing the final 3.1 innings.

Game Two: Hudson Valley 14, Tompkins Cortland 4 (five innings)

The first inning was again a problem in game two, with Hudson Valley taking advantage of six walks to plate six runs. After a scoreless second, the third inning brought more problems for the Panthers, allowing eight runs and making the score 14-0. Jake Pilgrim opened the bottom of the inning with a walk and came around to score the first run of the game for the Panthers, and a string of hits by Easton Podbeusek, Keelan Marren, Julian Poleon, and Logan Meerburg led to three runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the Panthers couldn't get any closer and the game was stopped by the run rule.

Podbeusek went 2-for-3 to lead the offense. Relief pitcher Liam Gordon was the most effective Panther pitcher on the day, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out two. Starter Mason Braid took the loss.  

Looking ahead

The Panthers play at Mohawk Valley Community College on Tuesday.