Bombers capitalize on free bases, use four-run inning to beat Raiders

QUINCY — Free bases are nothing but trouble as the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s pitching staff has come to know.

Five QND hurlers combined to walk eight batters and hit two others during Tuesday’s 8-5 loss to Macomb at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. The Bombers’ four-run rally in the top of the fourth inning, which gave them the lead for good, featured three walks and a hit batter.

Nick Elbe’s bases-clearing double with one out gave the Bombers the lead and Jack Beal added an RBI single before the inning ended.

The Raiders failed to score in the fourth inning despite two of the first three batters of the inning drawing walks. In the seventh, they again got two runners on base as Nolan Robb led off with a double and Ethan Rose drew a one-out walk, but a pair of fly balls ended the game.

Gavin Doellman went 2 for 4 with a double for QND (13-13), while Elbe finished 3 for 3 with two runs scored for the Bombers and Jake Hobson was 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

Blaine Eddington earned the victory, throwing 4 ⅓ innings of scoreless relief. He allowed one hit and struck out five.