In a game that featured a combined 24 runs scored, the Panthers couldn't hold an early lead, and then came up short with a last-inning rally, falling 13-11 at Genesee Community College Tuesday.  The game was scheduled as the first half of a doubleheader, but rain forced the second game to be called off. The result leaves Tompkins Cortland with a record of 11-14 overall and 7-8 in West Division play. Genesee is 20-13 overall and 8-5 in West Division.

Genesee 13, Tompkins Cortland 11

The first inning was scoreless for both teams, but that changed in a big way in the second inning. The Panthers put four runs on the board in the second, with Genesee answering with a single run. Joseph Tummino (Homer/Homer H.S.) led off the third with a solo homer to make the score 5-1, but the Cougars scored twice in the home half of the inning to make it 5-3. The score was 8-5 after four innings, and the Panthers led 9-5 midway through the fifth before Genesee took the lead by scoring six times in the bottom of the frame. The Cougars extended the lead to 13-9 after six innings, and held on in the seventh as the Panthers scored twice to make it 13-11. The rally came up short as the game ended with a runner on third and the tying run at the plate for the Panthers.

The bottom of the lineup provided some serious pop for the Panthers. Hitters 6 through 9 went a combined 9-for-13 and scored 9 of the team's 13 runs. Isaiah Reyes (Tonawanda/Kenmore East H.S.) and Ethan Buckley (Bath/Haverling H.S.) each had three hits, with Bukcley scoring three times and Reyes twice. Jinwoo Baek (Osan-si, South Korea/Yaptap) had two hits and two runs scored and Ryan Ballard (Rochester/Greece Athena H.S.) added a hit and two runs scored.

Game 2 – Rained out

The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was cancelled due to rain.

Looking ahead

The Panthers and Cougars are set to face off again Thursday, this time in Dryden. The doubleheader starts at 2 p.m.