Team to play crucial series

The softball squad will be in Chicago today for a doubleheader against Northwestern that could turn out to be one of the most crucial series of the year. With a pair of wins today, the Hoosiers (3-9) could move past the Wildcats (4-6) in the Big Ten standings. IU is tied with Minnesota for 10th in the conference.\nThe Hoosiers will be looking to rebound from last weekend, which saw them take just one win in four games against Ohio State and Penn State. But that win came in the final game of the weekend in which the Hoosier offense finally broke out of a slump to score five runs against a quality Penn State team. \nSophomore Stormy Hanson has been the squad's most consistent offensive player, picking up a hit in 17 of her last 20 games. After a 12-game hitting streak that ended April 7, Hanson has begun a four game hitting streak that saw her go five for 11 last weekend.\nSaturday, the Hoosiers will travel to Iowa to face the Big Ten's second best team Iowa in games Saturday and Sunday. The 7-3 Hawkeyes have lost three of their last four games and will face Purdue in a doubleheader this afternoon.