Instead, the Jayhawks came out on the wrong end of a pair of 8-7 NJCAA Region 3 Division III losses to the Panthers on Sunday afternoon at Diethrick Park.

Tompkins Cortland CC scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to take an 8-6 lead before stranding the Jayhawks’ potential tying run at second base for the victory in Game 1.

In the nightcap, the Panthers scored the go-ahead run with one out in the top of the seventh inning before again escaping in the bottom of the seventh.

“That’s just baseball. Sometimes the ball bounces your way and sometimes it doesn’t,” Jamestown CC head coach Matt Cummings said. “We gave ourselves an opportunity to win at the end. That’s all you can really ask for.”

Jamestown CC’s Caleb Caldwell scores on teammate Braiden Blair’s first-inning double during Game 2. P-J photo by Alex Shipherd

Tompkins Cortland CC (19-16, 15-10) took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning in Game 1. Shane Cuevas walked and went to second on an infield single when Jamestown CC shortstop Carlo Rodriguez attempted to flip the ball out of his glove for a force out, but second baseman German Nolasco couldn’t make the play. Starting pitcher Caleb Caldwell then nearly picked off Cuevas at second base, but the throw was dropped allowing both runners to advance. With one out, Panthers designated hitter Brandon Grant hit a two-run single before Tompkins Cortland CC scored its third run on a steal of home during a rundown between first and second base.

“It definitely wasn’t a clean top of the first inning by any means,” Cummings said. “We knew it was going to take more than two or three runs to win anyways.”

The Jayhawks (7-18, 6-16) answered right back as Nolasco walked and Rodriguez followed with a two-run home run deep over the left-field fence. Later in the inning, Caldwell scored on an RBI double by Braiden Blair.

“That all starts with preparation and how you take care of your body,” Cummings said of Rodriguez’s answer.

“Carlo has been struggling, but it was very good for him to get that monkey off his back and have a good game,” Cummings added.

Jamestown Community College’s Evan Harrison delivers to the plate during Game 2 of Sunday’s NJCAA Region 3 Division III doubleheader against Tompkins Cortland CC at Diethrick Park. P-J photo by Alex Shipherd

The Panthers took a 5-4 lead in the top of the third inning, but Jamestown CC grabbed the lead back in the bottom of the frame as Spencer TeWinkle was hit by a pitch with two outs and Evan Harrison reached on a fielder’s choice when an error was made trying to force out TeWinkle at second base. Nolasco then hit an RBI double before Harrison scored on an error after Rodriguez hit a short tapper in front of home plate.

Tompkins Cortland CC regained the lead for good in the top of the sixth. Caldwell hit the first batter of the inning before his sixth walk of the game allowed pinch-hitter Ryan Ballard to reach base.

“Caleb threw well for us, unfortunately there were too many walks hurting us,” Cummings said. “When you give guys a free 90 (feet), it always comes back to bite you.”

Cummings then called on Blair out of the bullpen and after a sacrifice bunt, Cuevas hit a two-run single to give the Panthers the lead. Alex Babcock followed with an RBI double to give the visitors an 8-6 lead.

“It’s never easy to have a relief pitcher come on with nobody out and runners in scoring position,” Cummings said, “but we expect our guys to execute when those times come up.”

The Panthers’ Joseph Tummino celebrates a first-inning home run with his teammates. P-J photo by Alex Shipherd

Jake Brown walked and pinch-runner Reid Bjork went to third when TeWinkle reached on an error before a one-out sacrifice fly by Nolasco made it 8-7. But Tompkins Cortland CC relief pitcher Joey Kench got the final out on a grounder to pick up the save.

In Game 2, Joseph Tummino hit the seventh pitch of the game from Harrison for a two-run home run to give Tompkins Cortland CC another early lead, but again the Jayhawks fought right back. Nolasco and Rodriguez hit back-to-back singles before a Paul Tripi fielder’s choice left runners at first and third. Tripi then stole second and when the throw was dropped, Nolasco raced home with the first run. After a walk to Roberto Aracena, Caldwell hit a two-run double off the left-field fence to make it 3-2. Blair followed with an RBI double to center field to score Caldwell.

The Panthers took advantage of two walks and a pair of Jamestown CC errors to score four runs in the top of the second inning, but the Jayhawks tied the game at 6 in the bottom half. Rodriguez singled with one out and Tripi reached on a fielder’s choice before Aracena hit a two-run triple past the diving Tompkins Cortland CC right fielder.

The visitors briefly took a 7-6 lead in the top of the fourth inning, but Jamestown CC tied it up in the bottom half as Harrison singled, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Rodriguez.

The score remained 7-7 until the top of the seventh when Babcock led off with a double before an intentional walk to Tummino spelled the end of Harrison’s night on the mound.

“Evan’s been huge for us all year. Every time he takes the ball you know he’s going to go at least five or six innings,” Cummings said. “We were very confident that he would settle in and start to hit his spots like we know that he can.”

Cummings then turned to Tripi, who walked Grant to load the bases with no outs. A fly out to second base held the runners, but Tripi walked Ballard to force in the go-ahead run before a double play ended the inning.

The Jayhawks again threatened in the bottom half as Brown singled off Kench with one out and was replaced by Bjork, who took second on a wild pitch. But a pop out to second base and a fly out to center field ended the game.

“It’s pretty rare that you have that many hits in each game and you don’t come away with a win,” Cummings said after the Jayhawks totaled 21 hits over the two games. “Our bats are heating up. That’s encouraging.”

GAME 1

Tompkins Cortland CC 302 003 0 — 8 7 6

Jamestown CC 402 000 1 — 7 9 2

Miller, Mineo (4), Kench (7) and Foody. Caldwell, Blair (6) and TeCulver. W–Mineo. L–Caldwell. S–Kench. SO–Miller 3, Kench 1, Caldwell 2, Blair 1. BB–Miller 1, Mineo 1, Kench 1, Caldwell 6. 2B–Babcock (TCCC), Nolasco (JCC), Blair 2 (JCC). HR–Rodriguez (JCC).

GAME 2

Tompkins Cortland CC 241 000 1 — 8 9 2

Jamestown CC 420 100 0 — 7 12 2

Mosher, Maloney (3), Kench (6) and Ballard. Harrison, Tripi (7) and TeCulver. W–Kench. L–Harrison. SO–Kench 1, Harrison 8. BB–Mosher 1, Maloney 1, Kench 1, Harrison 3, Tripi 2. 2B–Babcock (TCCC), Santiago (TCCC), Caldwell (JCC), Blair (JCC). 3B–Aracena (JCC). HR–Tummino (TCCC).