Matt Berner certainly knows about the baseball term “ducks on the pond,” referring to runners on base.

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But if the Lawrence Raiders’ shortstop were a hunter Wednesday at Free State High, he would have left the field without bagging his limit.

Berner batted in back-to-back-to-back innings with the bases loaded, but smacked only a single. However, his fourth-inning hit drove in two runs in an 8-3 American Legion victory over Topeka Post 400.

“I think I was just anxious and trying to do a little too much,” said Berner, a Firebird senior-to-be, who said he couldn’t remember having so many chances to knock in runs in one game.

While Berner was pressing at the plate, left fielder Derek Bailey stroked four singles in four at-bats. He scored two runs and drove in two runs.

“I’m just seeing the ball really well right now,” Bailey said.

Lawrence second baseman Andrew Pyle makes a throw to first. The Raiders beat Topeka Post 400, 8-3, on Wednesday at Free State High.

That’s an understatement. The Lawrence High product is a perfect 6-for-6 in the last two days, solidifying a Raider offensive attack that has pounded 26 hits in two games.

“We’ve got excellent pitching right now and our bats our making a lot of noise,” Bailey said.

But now Bailey and the rest of the Raiders (8-4) will try to build on two wins this week into more victories in Omaha, Neb. Lawrence will leave today for a three-day tournament.

Last year the Raiders didn’t win a game in Nebraska, but skipper Carl Brooks said his team would bring more intensity this year.

“We have some experienced guys who’ll remember what happened last year,” Brooks said. “But we’re not going in there hoping to win just one game. We want to win every time we take the field. “

On Wednesday the Raiders jumped to a 2-0 advantage in the second inning.

Eudora’s Andrew Pyle poked a double to right-center that scored Bailey and Dallas Worley.

Post 400 tied the game with two runs of its own in the third.

Lawrence's Matt Berner makes a throw to first. The Raiders beat Topeka Post 400, 8-3, on Wednesday at Free State High.

Again the Raiders jumped ahead with another two-spot, this time with Berner’s two-run single in the fourth.

The Raiders added a lone run in the fifth and then topped things off with three more in the bottom of the sixth.

Pitcher Aaron Madill scattered eight hits in seven innings. He struck out five batters.

The Raiders committed four errors.

“To tell you the truth we didn’t play that well early on,” he said. “But we battled and our bats carried us nicely.”

Berner said the Raiders were riding a wave of momentum.

“I think we’re going to do awesome if we can keep things going,” he said. “There’s a lot of good teams up there, but we’re ready to go to work.”

Lawrence 8, Topeka 3

Post 400 002 000 1 3 8 2

Raiders (8-4) 020 213 x 8 15 4

Kyle Edwards, David Applehanz (5), Casey Poevler (6) and Matt Montgomery. Aaron Madill and Troy Wingert.

W Madill (2-1). L Edwards.

Raiders highlights: Derek Bailey 4-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Andrew Pyle 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBIs; Kyle McManness 1-for-4, 2 RBIs; Tommy Mangino 2-for-4; Dallas Worley 2-for-3; Aaron Madill 5 strikeouts.