Mustangs’ season ends with loss to Panthers
Upper St. Clair’s C.J. Knudsen fired five strikeouts and gave up only two walks in seven innings as the Panthers handed Laurel Highlands a 4-1 loss in the second round of the WPIAL Class AAA baseball playoffs on Tuesday at Peterswood Park. The Mustangs were coming off a 6-1 victory over Chartiers Valley in a preliminary-round game on Monday. Laurel Highlands has made the playoffs 11 times under Landman, and has won its postseason opener every time but once.
Upper St. Clair prevented the Mustangs from making it two playoff wins in two days, however.
Kevin Slowery homered in the first inning to put the Panthers on the scoreboard first.
In the second inning, USC’s Brent Jackson opened with a double. After two walks, J.J. McGraw singled to left, driving in Jackson and Mark Bocchins.
Upper St. Clair (17-2) increased its lead in the fourth. Brad Wilson singled to center field. A walk and two hit batters forced in Wilson.
The Mustangs scored their lone run in the fourth inning on a two-out solo home run by Aaron Lowden. Another high point for LH came when pitcher Kevin Martin struck out six straight batters; two in the fourth, three in the fifth and the first batter in the sixth.
The Mustangs had a threat going in the seventh inning as Ryan Gondek walked and Dan Fuller singled. The next three batters were retired, however, to halt the comeback.
Laurel Highlands first baseman Santino Sloboda suffered a separated shoulder catching a foul ball during the game. He was taken to the hospital and he’ll be inactive for two-to-four weeks.
Losing pitcher Kevin Martin (5-2) pitched six innings, tossed eight strikeouts and gave up three walks.
“I thought that we played a good game today,” remarked Landman. “We just didn’t score enough runs to win the game.”
The Mustangs won their last six games to get into the playoffs and ran their winning streak to seven against Chartiers Valley.
“It was a well-played game with no errors. It’s hard to win scoring only one run in the game,” concluded Landman.
Upper St. Clair will play the winner of the Franklin Regional and Moon game.