Baseball Game Preview: Hammond Morton Governors vs. Merrillville Pirates

The Hammond Morton Governors will square off against the Merrillville Pirates at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Having both just faced considerable losses, both teams are looking to turn things around.

The home team had won the previous three meetings between Hammond Morton and Andrean, and Andrean kept the tradition alive. The Governors lost 15-5 to the Fighting 59ers on Friday. The defeat continues a trend for the Governors in their meetings with the Fighting 59ers: they've now lost eight in a row.

Meanwhile, Merrillville was not able to break out of their rough patch on Saturday as the team picked up their fifth straight loss. They came up short against West Lafayette, falling 8-2.

Isaac Aguayo was a force to be reckoned with on the mound despite the final result: he struck out eight batters over 4.2 innings while giving up three earned (and one unearned) runs off only two hits. That's the fewest hits he has allowed since back in April.

On the hitting side, Caleb Ayers made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and got on base in all three of his plate appearances with one stolen base and one run.

Merrillville's defeat dropped their record down to 4-22. As for Hammond Morton, their loss dropped their record down to 11-15.

Merrillville's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Hammond Morton has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .459. It's a different story for Merrillville, though, as they've only averaged .348. Will they be able to contain Hammond Morton's hitters?

Hammond Morton couldn't quite get it done against Merrillville in their previous matchup back in May of 2024 as they fell 7-4. Will the Governors have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.