The first road trip of the year could not have been any more difficult for the Tompkins Cortland Community College softball team. On Saturday, the Panthers traveled to Herkimer to take on the defending regional champions and the team currently ranked #2 in the nation. The result was a sweep for Herkimer by scores of 23-0 and 13-0. The result leaves the Panthers at 0-4 on the season while Herkimer moves to 7-3 overall and 6-0 in Region III.

Game 1: Herkimer 23, Tompkins Cortland 0   (5 innings)

Game 2: Herkimer 13, Tompkins Cortland 0   (5 innings)

The Panthers couldn't muster much offense against the strong Herkimer pitching. Tompkins Cortland managed just three hits as a team in the opener while striking out 10 times. Game two wasn't any better, as the team had just one hit while striking out 11 times.

On the other side of things, Herkimer plated 11 runs in the first of game one and never looked back en route to the 23-0 win. In game two, the Generals scored five in the first inning, but the Panthers held the Generals to a single run over the course of the next three innings. The fifth inning saw Herkimer score seven times to force the early ending.

With the highest ranked opponent on the schedule now behind them, the Panthers look to get things moving on the right track the next time out. That next game won't happen as originally planned as the Sunday doubleheader at Monroe Community College has been postponed due to field conditions. That means the Panthers now hope to get back on the diamond on Tuesday at Fulton-Montgomery Community College.