The top of the order did it’s job as the Austin Blue Sox locked up the No. 1 seed in Section 2B after beating the Rochester Royals 6-2 in Rochester Wednesday.

While the last five hitters in the order went 0-for-20, the top four hitters had all of Austin’s 10 hits and Dan Swift was 3-for-3 with a double and four RBIs.

Austin pitcher Joe Huffman got out of a big jam in the third inning when the first three Royals hitters reached base to score a run and make it a 4-2 game. Huffman retired the next three to prevent any further damage.

“Joe just shut the door on them and that was big,” Blue Sox head coach Josh Kunze said.

With the No. 1 seed, the Blue Sox (18-5 overall, 3-0 Section 2B) will not have to play a postseason game until Aug. 12, when they will host the winner of Rochester (1-3 Section 2B) and the Greyhounds to go to state.

“We’re looking at it like we did two years ago where we ran through the section and then went on to take second at state,” Kunze said. “We’re not afraid of having the top seed and we’re not afraid of having people aiming to beat us.”

If the Hounds beat the Blue Sox Thursday, they will host Rochester Aug. 9 in the first round of the playoffs. If they lose, it’ll come down to a coin toss.

Blue Sox pitching: Joe Huffman (W), 9 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 2 ER, 6 K

Blue Sox hitting: Casey Toops, 3-for-5, double, 2 R; Nate Johnson, 3-for-3, RBI, 3 R; Dan Swift, 3-for-3, double, 4 RBIs; Aaron Port, 1-for-4, R