Merrillville hasn't had much luck against Portage recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Pirates will square off against the Indians at 5:00 p.m. Merrillville has given up an average of 16.2 runs per game this season, but Tuesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Merrillville barely beat Lake Station Edison the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Pirates blew past the Fighting Eagles 24-12 on Friday. The high-scoring effort was just what the Pirates needed considering they were shut out in their previous matchup.
Elani Alvarez
| 05/23/25 @ Lake Station Edison | 2 |
| 05/13/25 vs Michigan City | 1 |
| 04/21/25 @ Michigan City | 1 |
| 04/18/25 @ Hammond Central | 1 |
Elani Alvarez was a standout: she fired off five runs, two triples, and five RBI while going 6-for-6. Those two triples gave her a new career-high. Aliveah Triveno was another key player, going a perfect 6-for-6 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI.
Merrillville was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .660. That's the best batting average they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, after soaring to 19 runs the game before, Portage was a bit more limited in their contest on Friday. They came up short against New Prairie, falling 11-1.
Portage saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Cora Kingrey, who went 1-for-2 with one stolen base and one RBI.
Portage has also traveled a rocky road recently, having lost 11 of their last 13 games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 9-18 record this season. As for Merrillville, their victory bumped their record up to 4-22.
Tuesday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Merrillville hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .331. However, it's not like Portage struggles in that department as they've averaged .346. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Merrillville might still be hurting after the 18-1 loss they got from Portage in their previous matchup back in April. Can the Pirates avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
