Baker’s dozen: QND baseball team runs win streak to 13 straight with WCC victory at Payson

PAYSON, Ill. — It’s not only the top of the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s lineup that can inflict pain on opposing defenses.

The bottom half of the order is feisty as well.

Saturday, in a West Central Conference matchup, the final five batters combined for eight hits, three doubles and nine RBIs in a 16-4 victory over Payson Seymour. Jack Linenfelser, Nolan Robb, Alex Connoyer and Simon Rabe each drove in two runs apiece.

After Jake Schisler and Tucker Tollerton led off the game with back-to-back walks, the Indians were able to get two outs before Linenfelser delivered a two-run single. Robb followed with a double to plate Linenfelser.

All six second-inning runs came with two outs beginning with Colin Kurk scoring on a wild pitch and Dalton Miller delivering an RBI single. Connoyer capped the inning with a two-run double. A seven-run third inning featuring two runs scoring on the same passed ball and another on an error.

The Raiders collected 11 hits and took advantage of eight walks, three errors and three wild pitches.

Ashton Ertz went 2 for 2 with a double and two runs scored for the Indians, while Noah Sparks went 2 for 2 with an RBI. QND’s Jackson Connoyer earned the victory, striking out nine and walking one over four innings.

The Raiders have won 13 games in a row and the first eight games of a 10-game road swing. They travel to Unity on Monday and Clark County on Tuesday before returning to Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield to face Central on Friday.