The Tompkins Cortland Community College baseball team never trailed in sweeping a doubleheader 5-3 and 8-3 at Corning Community College Tuesday. The Panthers improve to 11-10 overall and 4-6 in the West Division. Corning is now 5-15 overall and 4-8 in the West Division.

Game 1: Tompkins Cortland 5, Corning 3

The Panthers used a balanced ten-hit attack to take game one, scoring single runs in the second, fourth, and sixth innings and two runs in the fifth. Eight different player collected a hit, with Storm Grant (Homer/Homer H.S.) and Jake Woods (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) each going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Starting pitcher Christian Ballard (Alpine, Texas/Blanchard (Okla.) H.S.) earned the win, allowing three runs – only two earned – and striking out three while working into the fifth inning. Evan Plante (Albany/Christian Brothers Academy) worked a scoreless seventh to secure the save.

Game 2: Tompkins Cortland 8, Corning 3

The Panthers again scored early in game two, this time plating a run in the first, two in the third and four in the fourth to take a 7-0 lead. The Red Barons put two on the board in the bottom of the fourth, but the Panthers answered with a run in the top of the fifth to hold an 8-2 lead. Corning managed a run in the bottom of the fifth, but that ended the scoring for both teams.

Alex Babcock (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) paced the 10-hit attack by going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI. Ryan Foody (Tully/Tully H.S.) also went 3-for-4 with a run scored and a pair of stolen bases. Justin Barber (Brookfield/Brookfield H.S.) started and threw five innings for the win. Jake Prignon (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) closed out the game with four strikeouts over the last two innings.

The Panthers and Red Barons square off again Thursday in Dryden.