Michigan State games could put softball team back on track

A 1-3 start in conference play has left the softball squad in 10th place in the Big Ten standings and trailing in its quest to reach the Big Ten tournament. Now, the Hoosiers (11-22, 1-3) travel to East Lansing, Mich., for a doubleheader Friday against Michigan State. IU will also battle defending regular season champion Michigan Saturday and Sunday.\nLast weekend, the Hoosiers said they were not happy with their play as a whole, as the team managed one win in a four-game set with Minnesota. \n"This weekend is very important," sophomore second baseman Heather Suca said. "Obviously, we didn't get off to the best start, but we'd like to come out and get two (wins) versus Michigan State."\nMichigan State (12-24, 0-2) comes into the doubleheader on a losing streak of its own, having lost two games to Illinois last weekend.\nFor the Hoosiers, one key to a successful weekend will be coming out with intensity in all four contests. Last weekend, the Hoosiers' energy level was up and down, Suca said.\nSuca has struggled at the plate with a .195 average over 30 games. \nJunior catcher Brooke Monroe has been the Hoosiers' most consistent player, batting .350 leading the team in triples (2), home runs (8) and RBIs (23). \nFor the Spartans, offense has been a concern. The team average is sagging at .259 and the Spartans have only three home runs all season. \nAfter the two-game with Michigan State, the Hoosiers face perhaps their biggest challenge of the season -- taking on Big Ten defending champions and current conference leader Michigan. \nMichigan (17-11-1, 2-0) comes into the game with the current conference pitcher of the week, senior righthander Marie Barda. Barda pitched two shutouts last weekend in wins against Illinois. In 11 games this season, Barda is 7-4 with a miniscule 1.04 ERA. \nBehind her in the rotation sits Marissa Young (9-6) who lists 91 strikeouts in 90 innings pitched. \n"We know they (Michigan) are tough," Suca said, "but we go out every game thinking we can win"