Notebook: Baldwin makes impact

Pitt avoided opening conference play the way it opened the season, ducking an upset and beating… Pitt avoided opening conference play the way it opened the season, ducking an upset and beating Syracuse 34-24 at the Carrier Dome. Here are some game notes from Saturday. Crossed Up ‘ Not exactly bad news, but there’s no news about Pitt’s dynamic junior college transfer Greg Cross. After a rousing debut against Iowa in which Cross scored a 17-yard touchdown on his first-ever touch as a Panther, Cross was a lost man. He didn’t see the field at all against Syracuse on Saturday. This could mean one of two things. One, the coaching staff doesn’t want to show too much of Cross before Pitt gets into the bulk of its Big East schedule, or two, it simply isn’t comfortable enough yet to use Cross for chunks at time. Baldwin Sighting Pitt’s highly touted freshman wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin finally got on the stat sheet in his fourth game as a Panther. Baldwin made two catches against Syracuse. One was a two-point conversion that tied the game at 24 in the fourth quarter. Baldwin’s other catch showed a glimpse of his play-making ability. Baldwin caught a bubble screen, made a Syracuse defender miss and nearly picked up a first-down. Pitt converted a fourth-and-short on the next play. The coaching staff has been trying to ease Baldwin into the game plan, but both of Baldwin’s catches were key plays for Pitt, and it appears he might be ready to contribute sooner rather than later. Lee’s a Key Conor Lee kicked a career-best four field goals, three of which were for 40 yards or more. Lee’s four field goals also tied the Pitt record with Carson Long, Nick Lotz and David Abdul. Lee’s 14 points on the day also break his career high of 10 points. He now ranks seventh all-time in scoring at Pitt with 196 points. With two extra points against Syracuse, Lee extended his career streak of points after touchdowns to 85. He is a perfect 85 of 85 in his career. Injury Report Junior linebacker Shane Murray experienced his first game action of the year with about 10 snaps. Senior tackle Joe Thomas limped off the field late in the third quarter, but Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said he doesn’t expect the injury to be serious. A Toe for the Turf Two years ago, LaRod Stephens-Howling rushed for 221 yards and a touchdown in the Carrier Dome. On Saturday he ran for 73 yards and two touchdowns, to go with two tackles in special teams. Stephens-Howling’s performance earned him the game ball after the win. ‘I normally don’t award game balls in the locker room until I look at the film,’ said Wannstedt. ‘But the guy made tackles on kickoff, he made tackles on punts, and obviously he scored two touchdowns.’ Holmes to the House Ensuing Pitt’s first possession, Syracuse return man Mike Holmes took a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to give Syracuse a 7-3 lead that it would not relinquish until the fourth quarter. Holmes’ return was the first against Pitt since Gregory Gould returned the ball 90 yards for North Carolina State as part of the 2001 Wolfpack. Scorin’ Dorin Dorin Dickerson’s two-yard touchdown reception was his first TD catch as a Panther. In 2006 as a freshman, Dickerson scored on a 14-yard reverse against Toledo.