One of the top teams in the nation visited Dryden on Thursday for a Mid-State Athletic Conference softball doubleheader. Corning Community College, the defending Region 3 champions and the #4-ranked team in the nation, dominated the Panthers with a sweep by scores of 29-0 and 20-4. Tompkins Cortland is now 0-12 overall and 0-6 in the MSAC. Corning is 20-9 overall and 6-0 in the MSAC.

Game One: Corning 29, Tompkins Cortland 0  (5 innings)

Things got out of hand early as Corning opened the day with 14 runs in the first inning. While the Red Barons were adding eight runs in the second and seven more in the third, the Panthers were able to manage just two baserunners, and both came in the second inning. With one out, Lana Thousand (Onondaga/Onondaga H.S.) blooped the first hit of the game for the home team. One out later, Elizabeth Cobb (Cortland/Cortland Christian Academy) reached on an infield error, but both runners were stranded when the final out was recorded on a fly ball to center.

Game Two: Corning 20, Tompkins Cortland 4  (5 innings)

The Panthers were able to mount a bit more offense in the second game. After going down in order in the top of the first, followed by Corning putting up three runs in the bottom of the frame, the Panthers put together a two-out rally to get on the board. Karissa Wilbur (McGraw/McGraw H.S.) started the rally with a single, followed by a walk to Cobb and a hit-by-pitch for Marybeth Ortlieb (Cortland/Home Schooled). Hannah Forehand (Groton/Victory Christian Academy) delivered the big hit, a two run single that brought the Panthers within one run at 3-2. The rally ended and Corning came through with 10 runs in their half of the inning, taking a 13-2 lead into the third inning. The home team did not roll over, with consecutive hits by Austyn Vance (Nichols/Tioga H.S.) and Gabby Foley (Barton/Tioga H.S.), with Foley's double driving in a run. Two outs later Wilbur delivered again, this time driving in Foley for the second run of the inning and fourth of the game. It was the last time the Panthers would threaten, and when Corning tacked on five in the third and two more in the fourth, the final score was 20-4.

Looking ahead

The Panthers are next scheduled to play at Genesee Community College on Saturday.