Portage Pounds Merrillville 14-3

In the first of two shorten games Thursday night, Portage set the tone early and coasted to a 14-3 victory over Sectional host Merrillville. Portage scored two runs in the first off of back-to-back-to-back doubles from Seniors Andrew Brown, Gabriel Acevedo (Western llinois) and David Jercha (Indiana State). Again, in the 2nd inning, Portage would score two runs from the bats of Acevedo and Jercha, a single and home run respectively. After Jercha's two run homer, Senior Zach Simmons single, fielding erros and past balls led in two additional runs, making it 6-0 after 1 1/2 Innings.

 

Merrillville would answer with a brief spark of their own, scoring three runs in the bottom half of the 2nd inning. The Pirates did their damage, all with two outs, from Senior Ian Stacks (2B), Junior John Burns (1B) and a double by Sophomore Craig Burns. Unfortunately Merrillville's offensive explosion would end there.

 

Portage continued the trend of crooked number innings, scoring 7 runs in the 3rd inning. Senior Andrew Brown did most of the damage himself, blasting a three run home run over the left field fence. Portage would add a run in the 5th, making the score 14-3, ending the game in a mercy rule.

 

Stats: Portage- Andrew Brown (2012): 2-3 (HR, 2B, 4RBI); Gabe Acevedo: 2-3 (2B, 3R); David Jercha: 3-4 (HR, 3B, 2B, 3RBI)

Merrillville - Craig Burns (2014): 2-3 (2B, 2RBI)