Spartans Tame Panthers, Earn 2 Wins

After opening the season with two losses, Cayuga Community College Baseball bounced back Tuesday with a sweep of Tompkins Cortland Community College.

The Spartans dominated on the mound and at the plate against the Panthers, taking both halves of the home doubleheader by scores of 12-2 and 12-3, respectively. The conference wins pull the Spartans' record to an even 2-2.

In the opener, a three-run first inning highlighted by RBI hits from Juan Perez and Jacob Laird gave Cayuga a lead they wouldn't relinquish. They led only 4-2 late in the game, though, before scoring eight runs in the sixth inning to put the contest out of reach. The first seven batters reached base in the inning, with Perry Chetney bashing a two-run double to give himself three RBI in the game.

Each Cayuga started collected at least one hit in the first game, with Luca D'Emilio going three-for-three with two runs scored and Laird going two-for-four. Michael DeRosa and Kevin Dolan each scored twice, and Perez and Brandon Hoftijzer had two RBI. Brantley Griggs threw four innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs.

In the second game, the teams were tied at one when Cayuga scored five runs in the second and six in the third to take control. In the second inning, the Spartans scored on Hoftijzer's triple, a single by Chetney and a Perez force-out. In the following inning Cayuga scored on a Perez single and three bases-loaded walks.

Chetney, Hoftijzer and Perez each had two hits and two RBI, with Chetney also scoring twice. Laird had two RBI, and DeRosa, Dolan and Owen Browne scored twice. Christian Eddy threw three innings, allowing one run.

The Spartans are on the road next weekend for a pair of doubleheaders in Maryland. They face Cecil College first on Saturday, March 9, and then CCBC Catonsville on Sunday.