BY THE HERALD-WHIG STAFF

A big inning was all the Quincy Notre Dame softball team needed Monday at the Backyard.

Holding on to a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Lady Raiders pushed six runs across in the inning to pull away with a 9-1 win over Pleasant Hill.

A two-run double by Renita Bunte started the scoring barrage in the fifth, with freshman catcher Danielle Sanders following with a two-run single to put the game away.

Kristy Obert (3-0) struck out six in six innings to grab the win for QND (6-1), with Emily McCaughey entering to finish the seventh.

Sanders finished 2 for 3 with three RBI, while fellow freshman Kelsey Ley added two hits, including a triple.

Devin Wombles picked up a double and a triple for the Lady Wolves (2-4), exactly half of the team's total hits.

QHS 8, Springfield 0: Behind a dynamite, all-around performance from senior Mackenzie Fairley, the Blue Devils snapped a five-game losing streak at home.

Entering the game on a personal three-game losing skid, Fairley (3-3) went the distance, striking out 18 while allowing one hit and one walk.

The right-hander also went 2 for 4 at the plate with a home run to help QHS (3-5) regain its offensive attack.

The Blue Devils, who had been outscored 20-3 during the five-game losing streak, used a big four-run fourth inning to jump out to a 5-0 lead.

Sophomore Jordyn Mecklenburg added two hits for QHS, which is at home today before getting back to Western Big Six play this weekend at home against Rock Island.

Payson Seymour 12, West Hancock 0: A Dakota Flesner two-run triple, alongside a two-run single by Nicole Beckman in the first inning sent the Lady Indians to the easy win on the road at Hamilton.

With both teams coming in with only one loss apiece, Payson's Alese Speckhart (7-1) set the tone by allowing only three hits in the five-inning win.

The Lady Indians (10-1), who saw each starter collect at least one hit, capitalized off seven errors by West Hancock to take a 9-0 lead after the third.

Ashley Waack added two hits and two RBI for Payson, which has outscored its opponents 41-2 the past three games.

The Titans (6-2), who have lost two in a row, received singles from Becca Elschlager, Megan Skarin and Jordan Taylor.

Liberty 2, Central-Southeastern 1: It took a come-from-behind performance by the Eagles to post their fifth win in six games.

C-SE struck first to take a 1-0 lead after the first, but watched as the Eagles (5-5) fought back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Liberty starter Amber Wellman picked up her third win, striking out six while allowing one run on three hits.

The Lady Panthers (6-3) collected three hits on the day, two of which were doubles coming from Taylor Gaines and Allie Kestner.

Pittsfield 16, Brown County 5: The Saukees pounded out six doubles in the 11-hit attack while capitalizing off the Lady Hornets' shaky defense to post their fourth consecutive win on the road.

Brown County committed 10 errors, helping Pittsfield score at least three runs in three innings.

Candice Lunhum led the Saukees (5-1) with three hits, while Kasey Noble and Jessie Waggoner had two apiece.

Sophomore starter Kaity Schultz (2-0) picked up the complete-game win, striking out six.

Carol Dunlap finished 2 for 3 for the Hornets (0-10), while Kayla Knight and Caitlyn Kunkel each contributed a double.

Griggsville-Perry 8, West Central 0: Freshman Lacy Emrick evened her record, while also smacking two doubles to help push the Lady Tornadoes to the win at home.

Emrick (3-3) scattered three hits while striking out nine and walking three to pick up the win -- Griggsville's third straigh.

Sophomore catcher Miranda Whitaker went 3 for 3 for the Lady Tornadoes (6-4), while Devin Hurst added a double.

Unity 3, Western 2: A two-out single by sophomore Deanne Donley in the bottom of the sixth turned out to be the game winner for the Lady Mustangs (1-8), who had lost their first eight games of the season.

Nikki Graham singled with two outs to start the rally in the sixth and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Donley followed with a single to score Graham as Cassie Rosson (1-3) pitched a scoreless seventh to finish the game.

Nicole Bordewick had a two-RBI double for the Wildcats (1-4), who have lost four straight after opening the season with a win.