Hoosiers head to Ball State

IU will attempt to turn its 3-9 Big Ten record around in the second half of conference play against Illinois, Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan and Purdue, but not until playing a non-conference game against Ball State Tuesday in Muncie. \nThis weekend, the Hoosiers drew only one win in a four-game set against Iowa despite losing two one-run games Saturday. IU stormed back Sunday with seven runs in the sixth inning to put the Hoosiers up by 8-5 against the Hawkeyes. Freshman Chris McCombs earned his first career save with four innings of shutout baseball and only allowed one hit. \nAgainst Iowa, junior first baseman Ryan Parker finished one home run shy of the cycle, but completed a monstrous 4-for-5 performance along with two RBIs and two runs. Parker's triple to centerfield brought home junior second baseman Jay Brant and increased the Hoosier lead to 10-7. Brant went 2-for-5 adding two runs and four RBIs to his season total of 29 runs batted in. \nThe IU match-up against Ball State marks the second Mid-American Conference team the Hoosiers will play in as many weeks. Last week they defeated division leader Miami of Ohio University 5-2 at Oxford, Ohio. \nIn the overall series between IU and Ball State, the Hoosiers hold a slight advantage with a .511 winning percentage and 22-21 record. The two teams have not faced each other since April of 1998 at Ball State where IU was smothered by the Cardinals 11-3. \nIU travels to Diamond Field at 3 p.m. Tuesday before hosting a four-game weekend set against Illinois.