The Normal University Pioneers will challenge Springfield at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Normal University will be looking to extend their current seven-game winning streak.
Normal University's pitching crew heads into the contest hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Monday. They put the hurt on Rochester with a sharp 11-0 win. Considering the Pioneers have won ten games by more than six runs this season, Monday's blowout was nothing new.
Cade Cunningham
| 04/13/26 @ Rochester | 11 |
| 04/06/26 vs Springfield Southeast | 4 |
| 03/28/26 vs Washington | 4 |
| 03/20/26 vs Oswego | 3 |
| 03/25/26 vs Rochester | 1 |
Normal University got a great performance from Cade Cunningham as he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out 11 over six innings pitched. Those 11 strikeouts gave Cunningham a new career-high.
At the plate, Bodey Klemmenson and Landon Beckman did most of the damage at the plate: Klemmenson went 1-for-4 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs, while Beckman went 1-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. Those four RBI gave Klemmenson a new career-high. Myles Mitchell was another key player, getting on base in all four of his plate appearances with two runs.
Meanwhile, Springfield won against Auburn on Saturday with six runs and they decided to stick to that run total again on Tuesday. Springfield won by a run and slipped past Sacred Heart-Griffin 6-5. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory Springfield has posted since March 23rd.
Liam Watts was incredible, going 2-for-3 with one home run and five RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Jackson Jenkins, who went 2-for-3 with two runs.
The win got Springfield back to even at 6-6. As for Normal University, their victory bumped their record up to 13-1.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Wednesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Normal University has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.6 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Springfield struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.7 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Normal University got the 'W' in their previous meeting back in April of 2025 against Springfield by a conclusive 6-0 score. Will the Pioneers repeat their success, or do Springfield have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
