The Tompkins Cortland Community College softball team came painstakingly close to pulling off a fantastic comeback and earning their first win of the season on Tuesday at home. Hosting Finger Lakes Community College, the Panthers lost the opener 17-2 but came back to push the Lakers to the limit in the second game, ultimately losing 10-9. Tompkins Cortland is now 0-20 overall and 0-1 2in the Mid-State Athletic Conference. Finger Lakes is 14-16 overall and 6-6 in the MSAC.
Game One: Finger Lakes 17, Tompkins Cortland 2 (5 innings)
The day didn't start well, as Finger Lakes took advantage of a pair of errors by the Panthers to scored three unearned runs in the first inning. Aliana Hart (Fort Covington/Salmon River H.S.) got the Panthers on the board in the bottom of the frame, recording a two-out hit, stealing second, and then coming around to score on a single by Lana Thousand (Onondaga/Onondaga H.S.). After a scoreless second, Finger Lakes put six on the board in the third, a single run in the fourth, and seven in the fifth. A sacrifice fly by Hart scored Hannah Forehand (Groton/Christian Victory Academy) in the bottom of the fifth to give the Panthers a second run and make the final 17-2.
Gabby Foley (Barton/Tioga H.S.) went 2-for-3 at the plate in the opener to pace the five-hit attack.
Game Two: Finger Lakes 10, Tompkins Cortland 9
The Panthers showed their heart in game two. After a scoreless first inning, Finger Lakes scored four runs in the second inning, all unearned thanks to three Tompkins Cortland errors. Each team scored once in the third, making the score 5-1 heading to the fourth. Leading off the top of the fourth, Austyn Vance (Nichols/Tioga H.S.) drilled a pitch through the wind over the fence for a home run, cutting the deficit to 5-2. An inning later Abby Foley (Barton/Tioga H.S.) singled to start the fifth, and eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Hart. Finger Lakes pushed across two in the bottom of the inning, sending the game to the sixth inning with a score of 8-3. The Panthers threatened in the top of the sixth but didn't score, and Finger Lakes nearly ended the game in the bottom of the inning, scoring three runs to lead by seven before the defense stiffened and worked out of trouble to keep the game going into the seventh.
The seventh for the Panthers started with an out but followed with a walk to Abby Foley and a single by Gabby Foley. After Hart reached on an error, Thousand delivered a single to score the first run and reload the bases. Vance was up next, and she unloaded the bases, drilling a grand slam for her second homer of the game and making the score 10-8. After a pitching change, a hit by pitch and fielder's choice left the Panthers with a runner on and one out left. Another infield error was followed by a single by Forehand to load the bases. Abby Foley drew a walk to score Elizabeth Cobb (Cortland/Cortland Christian Academy) and bring the Panthers within one run. The rally ended with a pop out, leaving the bases loaded and tying run just 60 feet away.
Vane became the eighth player in program history with two home runs in a single game, driving in five runs while going 2-for-3. Abby Foley went 2-for-2 with three walks and two runs scored.
Gabby Foley pitched her best game of the season, allowing just six hits and four earned runs while tossing the complete game.
Looking ahead
The Panthers are scheduled to host SUNY Adirondack on Thursday.