NORMAL, IL - No. 10 Glenwood and Normal U-High matched up Tuesday and the Pioneers of U-High came away with a 9-7 win. They matched up once again on Wednesday night, in game two of a Central State Eight conference matchup, at Illinois State, Duffy Bass Field. The Pioneers were able to complete the two-game sweep with a 1-0 win.

With the game scoreless in the bottom of the fourth inning, Normal U-High (12-1) two-hole hitter Matt Mier, reached first on an error to lead off the frame. One batter later and a couple of pitches later, sophomore SS Jacob Mote got a breaking ball up in the zone and drove it to dead center field for a run-scoring triple. That one hit, was the only hit the Pioneers got off of Glenwood starter Jacob Maton and turned out to be the only one they needed.

Senior right-handed pitcher Owen Martin competed throughout the night and got the win on the mound for the Pioneers. The Illinois Central JC commit, went six innings, scattered four hits, struck out three and walked four. Martin sat 82-84 mph early on and routinely went to his changeup to keep the Glenwood hitters guessing. Sophomore right-handed pitcher, Jack Feely closed out the seventh and got the save for the Pioneers without giving up a hit. 

Glenwood (9-2) had a couple of golden opportunities to score throughout the game but were unable to cash in. To lead off the top of the fourth inning, Adam Holm lined a ball over the left fielders head for a triple. As the throw came into third base it ricocheted away. Holm took off for home but Martin, the pitcher, was backing up third and pounced on the ball in a hurry. Martin then turned and made an accurate throw to the catcher who tagged Holm out on the bang-bang play at the plate. Glenwood knocked on the door once again in the sixth. Glenwood had a runner on third base with one out when Jacob Jurgens hit a comebacker to the mound. The runner at third, thinking the ball was heading up the middle took off for home and proceeded to get caught up in a rundown and tagged out.

Maton, a Coastal Carolina commit, was the tough luck loser on the night. The 6-foot-3 right-hander once again proved why he is the No. 1 ranked arm in the Illinois’ 2018 class. Maton went six innings, threw 70% strikes, allowed one hit, one unearned run, struck out 14 and walked two. Maton attacked hitters throughout the evening behind a fastball that consistently sat 90-91 mph, touching as high as 93 at one point. He frequently mixed in a sharp breaking ball to keep the Pioneer hitters honest.

With the win Normal U-High gets to 12-1 on the season and 7-0 in the Central State Eight.

For more in-depth notes from the game - and all other games that we cover - visit the Illinois Scout Blog later.

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