The Dakota Cougars will take on Regina at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday. The last three games Dakota has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
On Tuesday, Dakota didn't have quite enough to beat Anchor Bay and fell 8-6.
Alivia Reardon was a force to be reckoned with on the mound despite the final result: she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits over six innings pitched. That's the fewest hits she has allowed since back in April.
At the plate, Kiley Phelan and Jenna Higgins stepped up to the plate in a big way. Phelan went 2-for-4 with two RBI, one run, and one double, while Higgins got on base in three of her four plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base. Chloe Dunn also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen base of the season.
Meanwhile, Regina had already won two in a row and they went ahead and made it three on Saturday. They walked away with a 10-6 win over the Cougars. That's two games straight that Regina has won by exactly four runs.
Morgan Thimm was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She struck out seven batters over four innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off three hits. That's the most strikeouts she has posted over her last three matches. She was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one RBI.
In other batting news, Mackenzie Ryska and Lorelei Mahon did most of the damage at the plate: Ryska went 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI, while Mahon went 1-for-4 with two runs, one double, and one RBI. That's the most hits Ryska has posted since back in April. Grace Cooper was another key player, going 2-for-4 with one run and one double.
Regina's victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 10-10. The road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.0 runs over those games. As for Dakota, their loss dropped their record down to 20-9.
Wednesday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Dakota has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .439. However, it's not like Regina struggles in that department as they've averaged .436. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Dakota took their victory against Regina in their previous meeting back in May of 2024 by a conclusive 13-5 score. Will the Cougars repeat their success, or do Regina have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
