The Tompkins Cortland Community College softball team picked up its first wins of the season Wednesday, winning a pair of games in very different styles over Fulton-Montgomery Community College. The Panthers won by scores of 1-0 and 13-5 to improve to 2-4 on the year. It was the season opener for Fulton-Montgomery.

Game 1: Tompkins Cortland 1, Fulton-Montgomery 0

The first game was a pitchers' duel, with Tompkins Cortland's Bailey Rose (Dryden/Dryden H.S.) earning the shutout win with a fantastic game. The sophomore had a career-high 14 strikeouts while throwing a complete game two-hitter. She worked around the biggest threat in the sixth inning. After Fulton-Montgomery put runners at the corners with one out, right fielder Zozha TenWolde (Newfield/Newfield H.S.) made her second great catch of the inning, this time doubling off the runner from first to preserve the shutout by keeping the runner on third from scoring. Rose closed the door by striking out the side in order in the seventh, securing her first shutout.

It was a good thing Rose was so sharp, because the Panthers only could muster a single run of their own. The lone run came in the third inning when Kwinne Harris (Elmira/Elmira H.S.) reached on a walk and eventually came around to score on a two-out single by Angela Martone (Candor/Candor H.S.). By the time the game ended, the Panthers had just two singles and four walks to show for their time at the plate, with Martone collecting both of the hits.

Game 2: Tompkins Cortland 13, Fulton-Montgomery 5   (5 innings)

Rose again took the ball in the nightcap, but the Raiders had more success the second time around, scoring twice in the top of the first. The Panthers answered with two in the first, two in the second, and another in the third. Fulton-Montgomery scored three in the fourth tie the score at 5-5, but Tompkins Cortland scored four in the bottom of the inning to regain control. Four runs in the bottom of the fifth ended the game by the eight-run rule, giving the Panthers the sweep.

After having just one player record a hit in the opener, seven different Panthers recorded at least one knock in game two. Ashley Aloi (Cortland/Homer H.S.) paced the team by going 4-for-4 with a triple, an RBI, and three runs scored. Rose helped her own cause by going 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI and a double. Brianna Stafford (Dryden/Dryden H.S.) also finished 2-for-3 with a double for the winners,

Rose earned the win in the circle with another complete game. She allowed five runs on eight hits, but just two of the runs were earned. She struck out three in game two, improving her record to 2-3 on the year.

If the weather permits, the Panthers are scheduled to play at Jefferson Community College Thursday.