Tompkins Cortland Community College baseball team picked up a pair of big wins Saturday as the Panthers fight to keep their playoff hopes alive. Playing at SUNY Broome Community College, the Panthers won 5-1 and 4-3 to improve to 18-14 overall and 11-10 in the West Division. More importantly, the Panthers moved into fifth place in the West, just one place out of a playoff position heading into the final few days of the regular season. Broome drops to 6-18 overall and 6-14 in the West.

Game 1: Tompkins Cortland 5, Broome 1

The top of the ordered powered the Panthers to the win in game one. The first five hitters in the lineup each collected two hits, with Garret Hunter (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox H.S.) producing three RBI. The Panthers trailed 1-0 early before tying the game in the third and taking the lead for good in the fifth.

Tompkins Cortland starting pitcher Charlie Hammel (Rochester/Rush-Henrietta H.S.) allowed the unearned run in the first inning, but settled in and held Broome at bay until the sixth, when he left the game with two outs and the bases loaded. Closer Evan Plante (Albany/Christian Brothers Academy) came in to end the threat in the sixth and then finished the seventh inning for his sixth save of the year.

Game 2: Tompkins Cortland 4, Broome 3

The Panthers again fell in an early hole, this time with the first three hitters in the Broome lineup scoring for the early 3-0 lead. Like Hammel in game one, starting pitcher Curtis Wilk (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) settled down after the rough start, not allowing a run after the first or a hit after the second inning and giving the offense time to climb back into the game. It took until the fifth before the Panthers broke through with a run, and then three in the sixth tied the game. The game-winner came in the top of the seventh, and a diving catch by center fielder Chris Micucci (Auburn/Auburn H.S.) to end the game preserved the win for the Panthers.

Micucci had his second two-hit game of the day in the nightcap, as did Hammel. Daniel Santiago (Newburgh/Newburgh Academy) also had a pair of knocks in game two.

Wilk pitched the complete game, his second of the season, striking out five to improve to 2-0.

The Panthers and Hornets face off again Sunday, this time in Dryden. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.