The Tompkins Cortland Community College softball team finally opened its 2023 season on Thursday, traveling to Binghamton to take on SUNY Broome. With every player in the lineup taking the field in a college game for the first time, the Panthers had some strong moments before ultimately falling by scores of 18-5 and 13-3. Tompkins Cortland is now 0-2 while Broome improves to 2-4.

Game One: Broome 18, Tompkins Cortland 5  (5 innings)

The effects that come with having limited experience came through in game one. The Panthers struggled with keeping Broome off the bases in the opener, and the Hornets took advantage, scoring eight runs in the first inning and five more in the second. At the plate the Panthers were able to push a single run across in the second inning, and then in the fourth, a double by Gabby Foley (Barton/Tioga H.S.) was followed by a home run from Austyn Vance (Nichols/Tioga H.S.) to score a pair. Three straight hits produced two more run in the fifth, but by that time, Broome had tacked on more runs to put the game out of reach.

Foley took the loss in the circle, but she had a good debut at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, triple, and two runs scored. Vance also scored twice for the Panthers in game one.

Game Two: Broome 13, Tompkins Cortland 3  (5 innings)

Foley again took the ball in game two, and threw a much better game. She struck out five while cutting her walks down by more than half. As a result, the Panthers took an early lead when the first four hitters in the bottom of the first all singled, leading to three runs and a 3-1 lead after one inning. Broome took the lead back in the second and extended it out of reach in the third, but Foley and her teammates continued to battle to the end.

Looking ahead

The Panthers take on Herkimer College on Saturday, with first pitch at 1 p.m. at Gutchess Park.