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Sports

USC Beats Baldwin 5-3 in First of Twinbill

Steve Gannon kept Baldwin hitters off balance pitching the complete game victory in the first of a doubleheader for the Panthers.

Last week Upper St. Clair starting pitcher Steve Gannon came on in the sixth inning of the Panthers game at Bethel Park. He walked four batters giving up a crucial run in a 2-1 loss, their only district defeat.

Coach Jerry Malarkey showed confidence in starting Gannon the next game. He pitched three innings picking up the victory. Thursday afternoon he pitched a complete game 6-hitter beating Baldwin 5-3.

"Coach showed big time confidence in me so I could show him I can do what I did here today," said Gannon after the game sporting a large ice pack taped to his right elbow.

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USC got on the board first when Mike Browne's RBI single scored Troy Schoeppner who led the inning off with a double. The Panthers led 1-0 after an inning but it would be a short lived lead.

Baldwin grabbed the lead in the second, but Gannon's ability to keep the damage to a minimum ultimately was what won him the game. After three singles, a walk and an error on shortstop Steve McMurtry, Baldwin found themselves winning 2-1 and had the bases loaded.  Gannon came up big striking out Christian Holland and stranding three runners.

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USC tied it up in their half of the second inning. Alex Bell reached on an error to lead off  and Schoeppner added his second double in two innings to drive him home.

The Panthers took the lead in the third when Mike Browne scored on a Jack Elliott ground-out after a costly wild pitch from Baldwin's Tyler Veterc.

Gannon struck out Holland again in the fourth inning with 2-on and 2-out. Mike Wilcox doubled home Zack Tobias who reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the fourth and USC led 4-2 after four innings.

Gannon stayed out of trouble the rest of the way with the help of catcher Alex Bell who picked off a runner in the fifth and Tobias who started a double play in the seventh that ended the game.

Going the distance, Gannon gave up six hits, struck out three and walked only two. Troy Schoeppner wound up 3-4 with three doubles and two RBIs. Matt Garbin and Mike Browne each also had two hits.

The Panthers play the second game of the doubleheader at home later Thursday afternoon against McKeesport. Upper St. Clair Patch will have an update from the game Thursday night.

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