The Tompkins Cortland Community College softball team ran up against a hot-hitting and strong pitching team on Sunday, and the result was a doubleheader sweep for Niagara County Community College, 18-1 and 15-0. Tompkins Cortland drops to 0-10 on the season. Niagara improves to 15-12 overall and 11-1 in Region 3 games.

Game One: Niagara 18, Tompkins Cortland 1  (5 innings)

The visiting Thunderwolves wasted little time in getting their bats going, cracking their first home run of the day while taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the inning, Mackenzie Rochford (Dryden/Dryden H.S.) had the first hit of the game for the Panthers, but couldn't advance past first base before the frame ended.

Niagara continued to hit in the second and third innings, hitting three more home runs and scoring 16 times to put the game out of reach. The highlight for the Panthers came in the fourth, when Rochford blasted a triple to right and then came in to score on an error on the relay throw.

Game Two: Niagara 15, Tompkins Cortland 0  (5 innings)

Niagara continued their offensive assault in game two, hitting four more home runs, including three in the first inning to put the game out of reach early. At the plate, the Panthers managed just one baserunner, with Shalynn Bizardi (Montezuma/Dana L. West H.S.) reaching after getting hit by a pitch with one out in the first inning. She was left at first base as the Niagara pitcher set down the next 14 batters in a row to record a no-hitter.

Looking ahead

The Panthers travel to Hudson Valley Community College Thursday.