The Panthers softball team took to the diamond for the first time this season, hosting a SUNY Niagara team with eight games under its belt. TC3 was ahead in both games, but ultimately missed out on the chance for a win, falling 10-9 and 12-7 to the Thunderwolves.
Game One: Niagara 10, Tompkins Cortland 9
The season opened with the Panther giving up three runs on just one hit before an out was recorded in the top of the first inning, but starting pitcher Elizabeth Martin buckled down to record three infield outs to limit the damage. In the bottom of the first the Panthers banged out five runs on four hits, the last being a two-out, two-run single by Sofia Lorenzo to put the Panthers up 5-3 after one inning. The teams traded zeros over the next three innings before each scored a single run in the fifth, sending the game to the sixth with the Panthers up 6-4. The sixth was rough for the home team as Niagara scored four runs on just two hits, taking advantage of three errors in the field by the Panthers to take the lead 8-6. Two more runs for Niagara in the top of the seventh made the score 10-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh. Brooklynn Seiger started the rally with a leadoff double, followed by a single from Lorenzo. Seiger came in to score when Khiliyah Torres hit into a fielder's choice that produced no out and Lorenzo scored on a groundout by Martin. Torres scored on wild pitch a batter later, bringing the Panthers to within one run. With two outs, Matisyn Lord was hit by a pitch and then stole second, but was stranded, leaving the tying run in scoring position as the final out was recorded.
Sophie Mayer was a perfect 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Seiger was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, Lorenzo and Lord also went 2-for-3.
Martin started the game in the circle, striking out three over 5.2 innings and allowing just four earned runs.
Game Two: Niagara 12, Tompkins Cortland 7
The Panthers had a bigger lead in game two, scoring two runs in each of the first three innings, leading at one point 6-1. The score stood at 7-4 midway through the fourth inning, but Nagara pushed five runs across I their half of the inning to take a 9-7 lead. Two runs in the fifth made it 11-7, and after the Panthers failed to score despite loading the bases with one out in the sixth, Niagara tacked on a another run to lead 12-7heading into the last inning, In the seventh the Panthers again loaded the bases, but again failed to score, stranding multiple runner on base for the fifth time in the seven-inning game.
Martin went 3-for-5 from the leadoff spot in the nightcap, with Makayla Esau and Seiger each collecting two hits. Peyton Swartwout threw the complete game, striking out two.
Looking ahead
The Panthers play at Mohawk Valley Community College on Sunday.