Showdown at Sembower

The IU baseball team faces a big challenge when it plays host to Big Ten front-runner Ohio State in a four-game series this weekend. The second-place Hoosiers (27-8, 8-4 Big Ten) will attempt to overtake the Big Ten lead from the Buckeyes (21-9-1, 9-3), who have three first-team 2001 All-Big Ten honorees in first baseman Nick Swisher, designated hitter Doug Deeds and starting pitcher E.J. Laratta. \n"This is the biggest series of the year," Coach Bob Morgan said. "They're picked to win the Big Ten again this year. We're the surprise team. It'll be a showdown. We're capable. We just have to play as well as we can." \nThe Buckeyes are led at the plate by Deeds, who is batting .413 with five doubles, six home runs and 27 RBIs. \nIU is second in the Big Ten in ERA (4.00). Senior lefthander Zach Otte (6-1 with a 1.61 ERA) said he knows the importance of the series.\n"We've always had great battles with them in the past, and this year it's for the chance to take over the lead in the league," he said.\nJunior righthander Nick Vitielliss (5-0 with a 3.35 ERA) wants to prove the Hoosiers belong at the top of the standings. \n"They're one of the big teams in the Big Ten, and we want to show them we're also a big team," he said. "We're going in with the attitude that we'll win the series. If we can win at least three of four, we'll be set."\nJunior righthander Nate Smith leads Ohio State with a 1.25 ERA and a 4-0 record. Laratta, also a righthander, brings a 2.81 ERA and a 5-1 record.\nIn addition to being second in ERA, IU is also second in team batting with a .347 average.\nJunior center fielder Kennard Jones leads the conference in hitting (.435), runs (57), hits (64), stolen bases (20), at-bats (147) and total plate appearances (164).\nJunior third baseman Vasili Spanos leads the conference in RBI (47), total bases (99), slugging percentage (.876) and on-base percentage (.527). He is also second in home runs (12) and batting (.425). \nGame one is today at 3 p.m. at Sembower Field. Games two and three are a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday is the series finale at 1 p.m.