Service hasn't had much luck against Dimond recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Cougars will be playing in front of their home fans against the Lynx at 5:45 p.m. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Service is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Alaska's top teams: Bartlett, who was ranked tenth at the time (Service was ranked fifth). The Cougars were the clear victors by a 13-5 margin over the Golden Bears on Saturday. 13 seems to be a good number for the Cougars as the team scooped up a victory with the same number of runs in their previous game.
McKinley Fuller made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out eight batters over five innings while giving up four earned (and one unearned) runs off six hits (and only one walk). She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than one walk any time she's pitched this season. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.
In other batting news, Cheyenne Henry was a standout: she got on base in all three of her plate appearances with two runs, two RBI, and one double. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in May of 2024. Aryanna Sparks was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
Service was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .400. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
Meanwhile, Dimond had to endure a three-game losing streak, but that streak is no more. They came out on top against Bartlett by a score of 9-6 on Saturday.
Aubree Ogee spent all six innings played on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and three unearned) runs on four hits and racked up 13 Ks. With that strong performance, she is now averaging an impressive 5.8 strikeouts per game.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Kea D'Elia, who went 1-for-4 with three runs, four RBI, and one stolen base. Another player making a difference was Clara Estabrook, who went 1-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and one double.
Service's win was their fourth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 4-3. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.0 runs over those games. As for Dimond, their win bumped their record up to 7-5.
Service suffered a grim 11-1 defeat to Dimond when the teams last played on Monday. Will the Cougars have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
