After having the first four dates on the schedule postponed, the Tompkins Cortland Community College softball team finally got the 2018 season underway Friday, hosting SUNY Broome for a doubleheader in Dryden. The Panthers showed signs of promise but ultimately dropped both games by final scores of 18-4 and 16-8. Broome improves to 4-0 on the season with the sweep.

Game 1: Broome 18, Tompkins Cortland 4   (5 innings)

The season started well for the Panthers. In the top of the first inning, pitcher Bailey Rose (Dryden/Dryden H.S.) set the Hornets down without any runs, thanks to a trio of groundouts that got each infielder involved early. In the bottom of the inning, the home team scored after a leadoff walk to Angela Martone (Candor/Candor H.S.) eventually produced a run on a sacrifice fly by Shelby Koch (Union Springs/Union Springs H.S.).

The 1-0 lead was short-lived as Broome scored three runs in the second, all without recording a hit. The Hornets added four in the each of the third and fourth innings, and then blew things open with a seven-run fifth. The Panthers scored three times in the bottom of the fifth, making the final score 18-4.

Five different players had a single hit for Tompkins Cortland, with Emily Aloi (Cortland/Homer H.S.) picking up the lone extra-base hit with a double. Rose took the loss in the circle, working into the fifth inning.

Game 2: Broome 16, Tompkins Cortland 8   (6 innings)

Playing as the visitors in game two, the Panthers jumped on Broome's starter with seven runs in the first. All the runs were scored with two outs, with Maranda Oot (McGraw/McGraw H.S.), Aloi, and Sarah Hollenbeck (Candor/Tioga Central H.S.) each blasting two-run doubles to lead the way. Broome scored a single run in the bottom of the first, but a change in pitchers for the Hornets helped keep the Panthers off the scoreboard the next two innings. At the same time, Broome rallied with six runs in second to tie the game and another six runs in the third to take a 13-7 lead.

In the fourth Rose singled with one out and then came all the way around to score on Broome error, making the score 13-8. Unfortunately that marked the last run the Panthers would plate, and when the Hornets scored three in the bottom of the sixth, the game was ended due to the run-rule.

Hollenbeck finished game two 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. She was the lone Panther to record multiple hits and the team combined for eight hits.

The Panthers hit the road this weekend for a pair of tough doubleheaders. On Saturday, the team travels to Herkimer to take on the #2-ranked Herkimer College Generals. Sunday the trip is to Rochester to take on Monroe Community College.