Hastings, MN — The Blaze came out and played like their season was on the line, which in fact, it was. The 7-seed Blaze hit and pitched like they were on a mission to get their first section win, and got it convincingly over 6-seed Hastings 9-5 on a warm day at Grossman Field at Hastings High School. Ethan Voss was very sharp on the mound, giving the Blaze a real boost of confidence, that only grew as more and more runs were scored. Voss went 5 innings, mixing a sharp breaker with an extra fast heater that was really popping Jackson Kieffer's mitt. Ethan gave up only 1 unearned run on 3 hits, 3 walks and struck out 7. By the time Voss left the game, the Blaze had built a nice 9-1 cushion. The black and gold got things going on offense in the 2nd inning, as shortstop Kade Bowar led off with a walk and scored all the way from first on sophomore Nick Meuser's gapper to left center for an RBI double. 2nd baseman Zach LaMotte then laid down a beautiful bunt that the first baseman airmailed over the first base bag to score Meuser. The Blaze plated 3 more runs in the 3rd inning, as Ethan Voss hit a one-out single up the middle, stole 2nd, then first baseman Ben Meuser hit a single to left. Bowar then knocked in both runners with a base hit down the right field line. Bowar then stole 2nd and scored when the shortstop made a throwing error on LaMotte's grounder, giving Burnsville a 5-0 lead. The Blaze scored 4 more big runs in the 5th, as Nick Meuser led off by getting plunked, as did pinch hitter Lucas Trussell. That led to the Raiders making a pitching change, and the new hurler threw one over first trying to pick off pinch runner Sean Emerson, which scored Nick Meuser. Senior 3rd baseman Blake Widness then drove in Emerson with an RBI single up the middle. Kieffer and Ethan Voss followed with singles to load the bases. Ben Meuser knocked in 2 with a big base hit to finish the scoring for the Blaze. Hastings rallied for 4 runs in the 7th off of relievers Owen Geegan and Blake Schmeling, although all the runs were unearned. Schmeling struck out 2, including the last batter to end the game, and bring a fired up Blaze squad on to the field to celebrate. The Blaze, who cranked out 10 hits, were led on offense by Ben Meuser - 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and a run, Nick Meuser - 1 for 2, with an RBI, 2 runs, a double, a HBP and a stolen base, Kade Bowar - 1 for 3, with 2 RBIs, 2 runs, a stolen base and a walk, Ethan Voss - 2 for 4 with a run and a stolen base, and Blake Widness - 1 for 2 with a run and RBI. Asher Giese, Kieffer and Jordon Sieben also had base hits for Burnsville. Our Blaze will play on Friday at 4:30 at Lakeville North, looking to knock off the 4th seeded Panthers.