Hoosiers continue road trip with conference series

The IU baseball team has worked toward one thing since the beginning of practice in February -- Big Ten play. All that work culminates today with the conference opener, the first contest of a four-game weekend series against Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. \nThe Hoosiers (7-11) begin conference play as part of 12 straight road games. \nIU has used its nonconference schedule as a sort of spring training in an attempt to iron out any problems before conference play begins. \n"Our preparation and focus is to get ready for the Big Ten," IU coach Tracy Smith said. "Our record is 0-0 in the conference and that's our mentality right now."\nAmong the things stressed all season, defense remains the biggest question mark now that conference play is beginning. The defense has committed 43 errors in the first 18 games, accounting for 22 unearned runs. \nThe coaching staff has made it clear that those numbers need to change in order for the team to win in conference play and the players are aware as well.\n"We need to improve on the little things, definitely our defense," junior second baseman Keith Haas said. "We're not a team that's going to hit three-run home runs to win games. We have to field the ball and move runners over."\nAwaiting the Hoosiers in East Lansing, the Spartans (9-9) are coming off a 14-5 victory Wednesday against Grand Valley State University and have won three of their last four games. \nIU has also won three of its last four, but dropped its last game at Butler in the bottom of the ninth. The Bulldogs rallied for three runs off IU freshman reliever Tyler Tufts to seal a 6-5 road loss for the Hoosiers. \n"I thought we battled back," sophomore pitcher Doug Fleenor said. "Hopefully this weekend it comes together."\nLeft-hander John Dwan (0-2, 4.32 ERA) will start the first game for Michigan State, followed by Jeff Gerbe (2-2, 2.56 ERA) in game two. Starters for the final two games have not been announced. \nSenior Josh Lewis will start the first game for the Hoosiers. Sophomore Chris McCombs will get the nod in game two, followed by freshman Joe Vicini in the third game and Tufts in the series finale.\nMichigan State will offer a challenge for the Hoosiers' pitching staff. As a team, the Spartans have a .318 batting average, led by shortstop Troy Krider, who has a .394 batting average to go along with nine stolen bases. \nThe middle of the Spartan order is led by pre-season all-conference selection Ryan Basham, who is tied for the team lead with 16 RBIs. Basham is tied with Adam Tripp, who leads the team with three home runs. \nThe speedy Hoosier offense will be led by its top two hitters both in the lineup and on the stat sheet. Senior left fielder and lead-off hitter Jay Brant leads the team with a .380 batting average and is second on the team with 10 stolen bases. First in stolen bases is second-hole hitter Reggie Watson with 16. The senior center fielder is second in batting average at .357.\nThe Hoosiers and Michigan State will begin their series at 3 p.m. Friday.