Hoosiers to take on Valpo in final tuneup

Before Big Ten play opens this weekend, the Hoosiers (15-7) have one final tune-up at home against Valparaiso (3-12). IU is currently on a seven-game winning streak, and the team has gone 14-2 since its 1-5 start.\nSenior outfielder Kevin Mahar said the team needs to focus on its own game in order to win.\n"We hope to fine-tune everything," Mahar said. "We just want to play to our ability and try to keep our win streak alive."\nDespite winning just three games this season, Valparaiso's record is a little deceiving. In their past four games, the Crusaders have gone 2-2. Valpo also has a penchant for keeping games close, with eight of its 12 losses coming by three runs or less.\nThe Crusaders are led by freshman outfielder Mike Arensdorff. Arensdorff currently has a .327 batting average and leads the team in home runs and total bases. On the pitching side, Valpo is led by senior Tom Starck, who was named the Mid-Continent Conference Pitcher of the Week after throwing a three-hitter against Butler.\nIf the Crusaders have much hope of winning, they will need to find a way to shut down the recently-potent Hoosier bats. IU is currently batting over .300 as a team for the first time all season. Senior shortstop Seth Bynum has continued his excellence at the plate, raising his average to .432, as well as leading the team in hits, RBIs and stolen bases. Junior infielder Corby Heckman is second on the team in average, currently hitting .390, and leads the team with 27 runs scored.\nIU and Valparaiso have played each other 39 times, with IU holding a 27-11-1 series advantage. The teams played each other twice last year, with IU winning both games, 12-2 and 7-2.\nMahar said the Hoosiers are trying not to focus too much on an opponent's record.\n"We're focusing on playing to our level," Mahar said. "We don't even know (Valparaiso's) record"