The Niwot Cougars will head out to take on the Mead Mavericks at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. Niwot is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.7 runs per game this season.
Having struggled with nine defeats in a row, Niwot turned things around against Silver Creek on Saturday. They came out on top against the Raptors by a score of 10-5.
Mandy Roth spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and three unearned) runs on seven hits and racked up seven Ks.
On the hitting side, Julia Richardson was excellent, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with two runs and one RBI. Those two runs gave her a new career-high. Angela Arosemena also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.
Niwot kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in three consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, Mead earned a 6-2 victory over Longmont on Tuesday. The Mavericks haven't had any issues with the Trojans recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive win against them.
Rosie Robuck made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out six batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned runs off three hits. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Halie Gippe, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI. Nyeli Salomon was another key player, earning one run and two stolen bases.
Mead now has a winning record of 11-10. As for Niwot, their record now sits at 7-15.
Thursday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Niwot hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .350. However, it's not like Mead struggles in that department as they've averaged .322. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Niwot suffered a grim 12-3 defeat to Mead in their previous meeting back in September. Can the Cougars avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
