Etiwanda has won 18 straight games at home (dating back to last season), while Rancho Cucamonga has won 18 straight on the road also dating back to last season, but those streaks won't matter much on Wednesday. The Eagles will welcome the Cougars at 3:15 p.m. Etiwanda is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.1 runs per game this season.
Etiwanda is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of California's top teams: Chino Hills, who was ranked 24th at the time (Etiwanda was ranked 13th). The Eagles had just enough and edged out the Huskies 3-2. The game was the first time the Eagles have beaten the Huskies on their field since April 23, 2019.
Kimberlee Aleman spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on five hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Brianna Gutierrez was excellent, going 1-for-3 with one home run. Taylor Wren was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases.
Etiwanda hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. The team has now struck out at least five batters in nine consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, Rancho Cucamonga was able to grind out a solid win over Los Osos on Friday, taking the game 9-4. The victory continues a trend for the Cougars in their matchups with the Grizzlies: they've now won seven in a row.
Rancho Cucamonga also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Joss Brandl gave up just two earned (and two unearned) runs on nine hits.
On the hitting side, Jordin Washington and Lizzy Brown did most of the damage at the plate: Washington went 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and two RBI, while Brown scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-4. That's the most RBI Washington has posted since back in February. Another player making a difference was Kaela Moffett, who scored two runs while going 3-for-3.
Etiwanda's win bumped their record up to 14-2. As for Rancho Cucamonga, they now have a winning record of 9-8.
Wednesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Etiwanda hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .406. However, it's not like Rancho Cucamonga struggles in that department as they've averaged .344. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Etiwanda took their victory against Rancho Cucamonga when the teams last played back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 13-2 score. Do the Eagles have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Cougars turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
