A walk-off in game one and a record-setting pitching performance from Ridge Walker (Moravia/Moravia H.S.) in game two powered the Tompkins Cortland Community College baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of Corning Community College Thursday. The Panthers won by scores of 6-5 and 4-0 to extend their current winning streak to five games, including four straight over Corning. The Panthers improve to 13-10 overall and 6-6 in the West Division. Corning is now 5-18 overall and 4-11 in the West Division.
Game 1: Tompkins Cortland 6, Corning 5
Things didn't start for the Panthers. The first four Corning batters had hits, but thanks in part to picking off two baserunners, starting pitcher Jake Woods (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) was able to limit the damage to two runs. The Panthers got one run back in the bottom of the inning, rallying with two outs to score on an RBI single from Storm Grant (Homer/Homer H.S.). Both teams put runners in base in the second, third, and fourth innings, but it wasn't until the fifth inning that both teams started to produce.
In the top of the inning, a pair of one out walks came back to bite Woods when both runners came in to score on an error to make the score 4-1. The Panthers finally strung together some hits in the bottom of the inning, following a one-out walk and error with three straight hits to score four runs and take a 5-4 lead.
Tompkins Cortland's first lead of the game was short lived, as Corning scored the tying run with two outs in the top of the sixth. The bottom of the inning was the only time either team was retired in order, sending the game to the seventh all tied at 5-5.
With one out in the top of the seventh, Corning out the potential go ahead runner on second base with a double. The next player grounded a ball towards the hole, but third baseman Daniel Santiago (Newburgh/Newburgh Academy) made a nice stop and tagged out the lead runner for the second out. With Corning's cleanup hitter due up, Evan Plante (Albany/Christian Brothers Academy) came on in relief of Woods. After hitting the Corning batter to put runners on first and second, Plante was able to get the next batter to fly out to right to end the threat and set the stage for a dramatic finish.
Charlie Hammel (Rochester/Rush-Henrietta H.S.) started the inning with a clean single, and then moved to second on a perfect sacrifice bunt by Garret Hunter (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox H.S.). Grant stepped in and popped a base hit into right field, scoring Hammel from second with the game winner.
Grant finished the game 4-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Hunter also drove in two runs, going 1-for-2 with two RBI. Santiago had a run scoring double in his three at bats.
Woods worked six and two-thirds but didn't factor in the decision. He scattered 10 hits while striking out four. Only three of the five runs he allowed were earned. Plante was credited with the win, facing just two batters but recording the final out of the seventh to improve to 2-1 on the season.
Game 2: Tompkins Cortland 4, Corning 0
The quick summary of game two was this: Walker dominated on the mound and the offense did just enough to win. A closer look shows Corning's lead-off hitter reached with a single, was erased on a fielder's choice, and then Walker retired the next 17 batters in a row. It wasn't until the seventh inning that a Red Baron reached base again, and then only on a pair of walks. Walker struck out the side twice and finished the game with 13 strikeouts, setting a new school record for K's in a game. Only one runner reached second base, and that wasn't until there was one out in the seventh inning and the outcome felt long decided. It was as dominating a pitching performance as Tompkins Cortland has ever received.
Offensively the Panthers loaded the bases with out in the first inning, thanks to a sinlge by Hammel and pair of walks. Grant delivered what should have been a sacrifice fly, but instead turned into an outfield error that gave the Panthers a run and left the bases still loaded with one out. A double play got the Red Barons out of any further trouble, but the Panthers ended the inning up 1-0.
It wasn't until the bottom of the fifth inning that the Panthers finally extended the lead for some breathing room. An inning that included two walks and three errors produced three runs without the benefit of a hit, making the lead 4-0 heading into the sixth. With the way Walker was pitching, four runs was more than enough to secure the win for the home team.
By the time the game ended, the two teams had combined for only three hits. Tompkins Cortland had just two hits, both singles by Hammel, but also benefited from six walks and five Corning errors. By contrast, Walker only walked two batters, both in the last inning, and the team committed no errors behind him.
The win improves Walker to 2-2 on the year, and lowered his ERA to 2.25. He has a team-best 44 strikeouts this season.
The Panthers take their five-game winning streak into a weekend set against Niagara County Community College. The teams are scheduled to play in Dryden Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., and then travel to Western New York for a pair of games in Sanborn on Sunday.