Burnsville, MN — Burnsville Varsity Blaze lost the lead late in a 9-7 defeat to Lakeville North Panthers on Thursday. Despite the loss, the Blaze did collect five hits in the high-scoring affair. Lakeville North jumped out to an early 2 run lead in the top of the first inning, but the Blaze answered with 4 runs in the bottom half of the inning. The Blaze scored a run on an RBI single by Jacob Neutz,scoring Eli Keristad who had walked to start the inning. After a single by Drake Sloan, an error by the North second basemen on a pop fly by Nick Meuser scored the 2nd run. Jonah Dawson’s line drive to center scored Sloan and Meuser to take a 4-2 lead. North scored runs in the 2nd and 3rd innings to tie the game at 4-4, but again the Blaze responded in the bottom of the 3rd inning. 4 walks and a hit batter lead to the Blaze’s 5th and 6th runs, to retake the lead at 6-4. North scored 1 run in the 4th, 3 more in the 5th and one in the 6th to take a 9-6 lead going into the bottom of the 7th. After Jaden Chow reached on an error, a triple by Dawson closed the gap to 9-7 but the rally fell short. Nick Discher started the game for Burnsville Varsity Blaze. The righthander allowed eight hits and four runs over three innings, striking out three. Jake Struzyk took the loss the Blaze. Struzyk went one inning, allowing three runs on one hit. Eli Kierstad pitched 2 innings allowing 2 runs on 2 hits while striking out 1. Jacob Neutz pitched a scoreless 7th inning to finish the game. Dawson went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Burnsville Varsity Blaze in hits. Starting Lineup Eli Kierstad (CF. P) – 0-3 (walk, run scored) Jake Struzyk (RF, P) – 0-4 Cole Sieben (2B) – 1-3 (double, walk, run scored) Jacob Neutz (1B, P) – 1-3 (single, walk, RBI, run scored) Drake Sloan (DH) – 1-2 (single, walk, 2 runs scored) - Jayden Chow (RF) – 0-1 (run scored) Nick Meuser (3B) – 0-3 (walk, run scored) Jonah Dawson (C) – 1-3 (single) Connor Quimby (3B) – 0-3 (walk, RBI, run scored) John Santelman (SS) – 0-3