Baseball Game Preview: Metamora Redbirds vs. Normal University Pioneers

Metamora is 0-5 against Normal University since May of 2015 but things could change on Tuesday. The Redbirds will challenge the Pioneers at 6:00 p.m. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Metamora barely beat Pekin the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Redbirds put the hurt on the Dragons with a sharp 11-1 win on Monday. The Redbirds have beaten the Dragons the last three times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Dragons has come to flipping the script.

Mason Sauder

Hits (Career)

04/28/25 @ Pekin	3
04/19/25 @ Bloomington	2
04/15/25 @ Mt. Zion	2
04/23/25 @ Canton	1
04/21/25 vs Canton	1

Mason Sauder was a major factor no matter where he played. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out eight over five innings pitched. He also tossed no earned runs, which is notable because Metamora is 3-1 when he allows at most one earned run, but 3-10 otherwise. Sauder was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run. Those three hits gave him a new career-high.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Stephen Petri, who got on base in all four of his plate appearances with one home run and one double. That home run marked the first that he has launched this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Brady Jones, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI, two doubles, and one run.

Metamora always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .545. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.

Meanwhile, Normal University never let their opponents score on Saturday. They came out on top against Williamsville by a score of 4-0. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Pioneers.

Normal University pushed their record up to 16-4 with the victory, which was their eighth straight at home dating back to last season. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.5 runs on average over those games. As for Metamora, their record is now 6-11.

Metamora couldn't quite get it done against Normal University in their previous meeting back in March of 2024 as they fell 6-2. Can the Redbirds avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.