IU looks to gain positive momentum

The IU softball team has seen its fair share of hard times in the past week, but the Evansville game is just what the Hoosiers need to get back on their feet before jumping back into the Big Ten season.\nThe Hoosiers will travel to Evansville today before getting back into their Big Ten season with contests against Michigan State and Michigan this weekend. \nThis game is similar to the April 10 game against Indiana State that IU won before it went on a four-game losing streak on the road in Big Ten play. IU will have four more Big Ten games after this Evansville contest, but they will be at home. \nSenior pitcher Kristy Wahl said the Evansville game can help the Hoosiers in the future.\n“I think the non-conference game can help us like the Indiana State game,” Wahl said. “I don’t know why Indiana State didn’t carry over, but I think Evansville is a good team so they can help us prepare to face Michigan State.”\nThe Hoosiers (19-23) are 6-6 at home and 1-7 away from Bloomington this season, playing most of the games in neutral sites. Wahl said she thinks the home game can help her team. \n“We’ve been struggling at the starts of games and we seem to settle down once we get into the game,” Wahl said. “Hopefully we can use the Evansville game, along with this weekend, and our fans to turn that around in our upcoming home games.”\nThis home stretch will be a crucial one for IU. \nAfter this weekend the team will head into a stretch without home games that will see the Hoosiers play seven away games heading into the postseason. They won’t return to play a game in the IU Softball Field until May 6, when they face the Boilermakers to close out their regular season. \nSuccess is a must have this weekend because of the Hoosiers’ track record on the road. IU coach Stacey Phillips said after the Minnesota loss that she was proud of a team that never gives up, and IU will need every bit of that determination in its upcoming road schedule. \nThis grueling road slate the Hoosiers have to endure can have an affect that is detrimental to the players’ postseason hopes. Sophomore infielder Sarah Padove said they will have to pull all aspects of their game together to be successful.