For the second time in three days, the Tompkins Cortland Community College baseball team has done something it had never done before in the history of the program. On Thursday, Ledy Alvarez (Guayaquil, Ecuador/Colegio Americano) became just the second player in program history to hit three home runs in one day, blasting two in the 15-5 win in game one before hitting another in the 11-8 loss in game two. Tompkins Cortland is now 3-9 overall and 3-7 in the West Division. Corning stands at 1-15 overall and in the West Division.
Game One: Tompkins Cortland 15, Corning 5 (5 innings)
The opener featured contributions down the entire lineup, with every Panther in the starting nine either collecting a hit or scoring run. Alvarez stole the spotlight by blasting a pair of two-run homers, but it was far from a one-man show.
Dan Mrowinski (Syracuse/Solvay H.S.) also hit a homer, his second of the season, and Gabriel Gilbert (Guayaquil, Ecuador/Montessori H.S.) collected two hits and scored two runs.
On the mound, Shane Smith (Groton/Groton H.S.) and Gabriel Fonseca (Miami, Fla./Mater Lakes Academy) combined to keep Corning to five runs over five innings, with Fonseca earned the win in relief of Smith's strong start.
Game Two: Corning 11, Tompkins Cortland 8
The Panthers again had a balanced attack in game two, but not quite enough to match the Red Barons. Corning scored seven runs over the first two innings to take the lead before the Panthers came roaring back with five in the top of the third. The Red Barons would not be denied, though, responding with three runs in the bottom of the third to extend the lead to 10-5. The Panthers tried to chip away, scoring two I the fourth and another one in the sixth, but couldn't get any closer than the three-run final margin.
Alvarez blasted his third home of the day in the sixth inning, a solo shot that tied him with Kannon VanDuzer (Sayre, Penn./Sayre Area H.S.) for most home runs in a day. VanDuzer, who became the first Panther to accomplish that feat just two days ago, went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles in game two. Alvarez was the only other Panther with multiple hits in game two, finishing 2-for-3.
Looking ahead
The Panthers return home Saturday to host Finger Lakes Community College.