IU road trip full of Big Ten match-ups

After losing a heartbreaker Wednesday afternoon at Louisville, the IU softball team will continue its five-game road trip this weekend against Illinois and Iowa.\nWednesday's game against the Cardinals went into extra innings before Louisville shortstop Courtney Moore hit a game-winning home run to left field in the bottom of the ninth inning.\n"We're going to use this as motivation," said sophomore shortstop Christy Wahl. "We played all nine innings as a team and came together through the whole thing."\nAlthough they did lose, the Hoosiers were able to come out of Wednesday's loss with some positive things.\n"One swing made the game go the other way," said junior right fielder Lauren Hines. "We're able to take a lot of good things away from the game. We played a great game defensively."\nThe loss dropped IU's record to 10-24 overall as they head into conference play this weekend.\n"We still have the potential to do big things in the Big Ten," said IU coach Stacey Phillips. "We have to stick to what we do well."\nWith the heartbreaker at Louisville, the Hoosiers have now lost four in a row, including two games against Michigan State to open the Big Ten season.\nThey hope to turn it around quickly as they take on Illinois (15-15 overall, 0-4 in conference) at 6 p.m. tonight and wrap up the two game series at noon tomorrow.\nThe Illini have struggled in Big Ten play, losing two games a piece to Northwestern and Michigan, the No. 1 team in the nation in the latest ESPN/USA softball poll.\nOn the season, Illinois' high-powered offense features three hitters batting at a .300 clip or better. Freshman infielder Shanna Diller leads the offense with five home runs and 29 runs batted in.\nThe Hoosiers will face sophomore Mary Miller in the circle. Miller leads the team in victories with ten, but batters are hitting .303 against her while hitting 13 home runs. \nIU will wrap up the road trip with a doubleheader Sunday afternoon against the Iowa Hawkeyes, ranked No. 19 in the nation.\nJust like the Illini, Iowa has struggled in Big Ten play. After finishing their preseason schedule 27-5, the Hawkeyes have lost three of four conference games. \nLast season, IU struggled against Iowa, losing two games in Bloomington.\nThe Hoosiers hope to work on consistent hitting.\n"When you step up to the plate, you're supposed to have fun, and we haven't seen that consistently," Phillips said.\nIU is ready to hit the road in improving their record and with the long-term goal of the Big Ten tournament down the road.\n"If we win three of four and hit like we want to, I'll be very satisfied," Phillips said.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Tim O'Brien at tpobrien@indiana.edu.