Thunderwolves sweep Tompkins Cortland CC on Tuesday, move to 2-0 in Region III play
After a nine-game slate to open the season in Florida, SUNY Niagara continued its campaign with a two-game sweep against Tompkins Cortland CC in NJCAA Region III play Tuesday in Cortland. The Thunderwolves defeated the Panthers in Game One, 10-9, and 12-7 in Game Two.
This marked SUNY Niagara’s first series sweep since its doubleheader win against SUNY Adirondack on May 6, 2023. The blue-and-gold won Game One in six innings, 17-1, and Game Two in five innings, 12-4.
This was also the second time in the Jenna Koch era (since 2025) where SUNY Niagara won consecutive games. The Thunderwolves defeated Corning CC in the back half of a doubleheader, 18-10, in six innings on May 6 and an 8-4 win in Game One of their two-game set with Genesee CC on May 7.
Including the forfeit win over Daytona State Christian University on March 19, SUNY Niagara is now 3-8 overall and 2-0 in Region III action. Weather permitting, SUNY Niagara continues its season with a doubleheader at Herkimer Community College at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Game One: SUNY Niagara 10, Tompkins Cortland CC 9
The Thunderwolves and Panthers came out swinging in the first inning as they recorded eight combined runs (5-3 Tompkins Cortland). Both teams then added a run each in the fifth, with the Panthers taking a 6-4 lead.
SUNY Niagara then responded with four runs in the top half of the sixth for an 8-4 lead as Emmilie Sypherd recorded a three-run single and Gianna Simone recorded an inside-the-park home run. The Thunderwolves added two more runs in the top of the seventh for a 10-6 lead before the Panthers scored three in the bottom of the seventh but couldn’t complete the come-from-behind win.
Miranda Shingleton went 2-for-3 at the plate, drove in two runs and scored twice. Molly Syposs drove in two runs and scored a run herself. Grace Schindler scored two runs and both Mia Herman and Quinn Manth scored a run each.
Cailtyn Hanley threw six innings and allowed eight earned runs on 13 hits, along with four strikeouts and seven walks, but went 2-for-2 at the plate and scored twice. Marissa Shingleton threw the seventh and recorded one strikeout.
Game Two: SUNY Niagara 12, Tompkins Cortland CC 7
The Panthers scored two runs in the top of the first and second innings and later had a 5-1 lead going into the bottom of the third. The Thunderwolves’ bats then came to life with three runs in the third and then five runs on six hits in the fourth for a 9-6 lead, with Emmilie Sypherd’s one-run single in the fourth as the catalyst.
Lauren Kisloski and Mia Herman both recorded new single-game highs with three hits each for the Thunderwolves. Both drove in two runs and scored twice in the win.
Miranda Shingleton went 2-for-4 and delivered three runs and scored twice, and Quinn Manth went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in and recorded her team-high 15th stolen base, which is fourth most in NJCAA Division III, as of Wednesday.
Emmilie Sypherd, Grace Schindler, and Molly Syposs also recorded two hits each. Sypherd and Syposs also scored two runs and Schindler scored once.
Caitlyn Hanley drove in a run for the Thunderwolves. SUNY Niagara recorded a season-high 17 hits against the Panthers, its highest total since it had 13 against Schoolcraft College March 14 in Florida.
Marissa Shingleton went the distance and allowed six earned runs on 10 hits, struck out one and walked 10.