The Panthers softball team continued to struggle on both sides of the plate Thursday, losing doubleheader to Jefferson Community College, 20-1 and 11-1. Tompkins Cortland is now 0-8 on the year. Jefferson is 5-9 overall and 5-5 in Region III.

Jefferson 20, Tompkins Cortland 1 (5 innings)

After a good first inning for starting pitcher Paige Graham (Groton/Groton H.S.), the second inning was a bit of a nightmare. Jefferson scored 12 runs on just six hits in the inning, taking advantage of three errors and five walks. The Panthers got in the board in the third with Kimberly Duda (Homer/Homer H.S.) stroking a double, moving to third on a single by Jessica Kenyon (Cortland/Cortland H.S.), and then taking home on the back end of a double steal. The Cannoneers tacked on eight runs in the fifth inning, again taking advantage of three errors and five walks to tally more runs than hits.  

The game totals show the challenge for the Panthers. Jefferson scored 20 runs while registering only 10 hits, thanks to 14 walks and 8 errors. Duda and Kenyon were the only Panthers with hits.

Jefferson 11, Tompkins Cortland 1 (5 innings)

While the Panthers were no-hit through the first three innings, Jefferson scored three in the first and seven more in the second to jump ahead early. In the fourth the Panthers finally were able to string together a few hits, with Mackenzie Constable (Sidney/Sidney H.S.) reaching and them coming around to score on hits by Ashley Aloi (Cortland/Homer H.S.) and Emily Aloi (Cortland/Homer H.S.). The Cannoneers answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth. A scoreless fifth ended the game with the 11-1 score.

Looking ahead

The Panthers are scheduled to play Saturday at Onondaga Community College.