The day started with a dominating pitching performance and ended with a disappointing doubleheader split for the Tompkins Cortland Community College baseball team on Sunday. The Panthers beat SUNY Adirondack 4-0 in game one, but lost 7-4 in extra innings in game two. Tompkins Cortland is now 6-9 overall and 5-7 in East Division games. Adirondack is 9-16 overall and 7-11 in division.

Game One: Tompkins Cortland 4, Adirondack 0

Tompkins Cortland pitcher Caleb Thompson (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) was the story of game one as he tossed an absolute gem. Starting out by striking out the first two batters and four of the first six, Thompson didn't allow a hit until two outs in the fifth inning. By the end of the game, it was not just the only hit for Adirondack, but the only ball Thompson allowed to be hit out of the infield. His final line was seven innings pitched, no runs, one hit, and eight strike outs.

And his dominance extended beyond his pitching as he showed off his glove with a highlight-worthy play in the third inning. After a walk and an errant pick-off attempt, Adirondack had a runner on third with one out. The Timberwolves tried a suicide squeeze on the first pitch, but the batter couldn't handle Thompson's fast ball and failed to get the bunt down. Instead, the bunt attempt produced a soft liner right back to Thompson, who caught the ball and jogged to third to double off the runner with a very rare unassisted double-play by the pitcher.

After stranding three runners in scoring position in the first two innings, Tompkins Cortland's offense finally broke through with single runs in the third and fourth and then put it away with two more in the sixth.

While Thompson flirted with throwing the second no hitter in Panthers history, the offense did put the game into the record book by hitting three triples. Jayden Jeminson (Brampton, Ontario/Louise Arbour H.S.) went 2-for-3 on the day with one of the triples; Taj Muhammad (Franklin Township, N.J./Franklin H.S.) and Nick Scanlon (Pompey/Fabius-Pompey H.S.) had the other three-baggers. Garrett Fox (Tully/Tully H.S.) also was hot at the plate in game one, finishing 3-for-3.

Game Two: Adirondack 7, Tompkins Cortland 4  (8 innings)

The Panthers got more strong starting pitching in game two, as Nick Cody (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) struck out eight over five scoreless innings. He left with two outs in the sixth, having allowed a single run and with his team up 3-1, thanks to a three-run fourth inning that saw the Panthers take advantage of a pair of walks and an error to plate three runs on just one hit.

Entering the seventh inning three outs from a win, the Panthers bullpen couldn't close the door. Adirondack stated the inning with a single, walk, double, and single to tie the game at 3-3. After a sac fly, the Timberwolves led 4-3, and the game went to the bottom of the seventh with Adirondack now the team just three outs from a win.

The bottom of the seventh opened with a walk to Jaden Nelomes (Rochester/Churchville-Chili H.S.). A wild pitched moved him to second, and Scanlon came through with a single to score the tying run. After a fielder's choice and a stolen base, the Panthers had the winning run on second with one out. Fox lifted a fly ball double to right-center, but the runner on second held up to see if the ball would be caught, and had to stop at third. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, the rally ended on a groundball back to the pitcher that produced an out at the plate and then a fly ball to center.

Dodging the bullet in the bottom of the seventh seemed to give Adirondack a spark, which carried over to the eighth. A pair of walks to open the inning were followed by a pair of singles to make it 5-4. A hit by pitch and a groundout produced two more runs and put the Panthers down 7-4 heading to the bottom of the eighth. A pair of hits brought the tying run to the plate, but they ended up being stranded as the game ended with a strike out and a win for Adirondack.

After pounding out ten hits in the opener, the Panthers were limited to five in the nightcap. Scanlon was the lone Panthers with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with one RBI.  

Looking ahead

Tompkins Cortland will host Cayuga Community College Tuesday in a make-up from an earlier rain out. The doubleheader will start at 2 p.m. in Dryden.