The Tompkins Cortland Community College baseball team kept its playoff hopes alive Tuesday with a doubleheader sweep of Jamestown Community College. The Panthers topped the Jayhawks on the road, 4-2 and 9-2 to improve to 15-13 overall and 8-9. Jamestown 7-17 overall and 7-15 in the West Division. The top four teams in the West Division advance to the NJCAA Region III playoffs. With ten games left on the schedule, the Panthers are currently in sixth place in the division, 2.5 games out of fourth place.

Game 1: Tompkins Cortland 4, Jamestown 2

Starting pitcher Austin Rourke (Jacksonville, Fla./Terry Parker H.S.) picked up his first win on the mound, and he certainly earned it. The sophomore righty held Jamestown hitless over the first three innings and allowed just four hits total over five and a third innings. Rourke struck out four and left the game with the Panthers holding a 4-0 lead. Closer Evan Plante (Albany/Christian Brothers Academy) came in with two runners on base in the sixth, but worked out of trouble and then worked around two runs scored in the seventh to secure the win.

At the plate, Chris Micucci (Auburn/Auburn H.S.) and Alex Babcock (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) each went 2-for-4 while Garret Hunter (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox H.S.) drove in a pair with a double.

Game 2: Tompkins Cortland 9, Jamestown 2

The Panthers used contributions throughout the lineup in game two, with eight of the starters picking up at least one hit. Storm Grant (Homer/Homer H.S.) had a big game, going 2-for-3 with three RBI. Austin Kulas (Moravia/Moravia H.S.) and Garret Hunter (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox H.S.) each had a pair of hits and an RBI and Chris Foote (Odessa/Odessa-Montour H.S.) went 1-for-3 with two RBI.

On the mound, Ridge Walker (Moravia/Moravia H.S.) dominated over the first three innings, striking out six and allowing no runs. Jake Woods (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) worked the next three, allowing two runs and earning the win to improve to 4-1. Jake Prignon (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) worked a scoreless seventh the close out the victory.

The Panthers and Jayhawks are scheduled to play a doubleheader in Dryden on Thursday.