Minnesota, Wisconsin await Hoosiers on road

IU softball coach Stacey Phillips said road trips can be one of two things: They can be long and difficult or they can be important bonding moments for the team.\nAs the Hoosiers prepare for their first road trip of the Big Ten season, they said they hope it’s the latter of the two.\nThe Hoosiers will visit Minnesota and Wisconsin this Sunday and Monday for a pair of doubleheaders. \nDue to severe weather in Madison, Wisc., the Hoosiers will play a doubleheader with the Badgers on Monday while the scheduled pair of games versus Minnesota on Sunday does not change. \nThe Hoosiers hover just above a .500 record on the road this season with a 13-12 record. This opening road trip marks the beginning of nine games the Hoosiers will play on the road in Big Ten play. But, for IU, it is the manner in which they play, not the location, that matters most.\n“We really try to stress that it doesn’t matter where we’re playing or who were playing we just need to play Indiana softball,” said junior Jennilee Huddleston. “So it’s always interesting to play at the places but that doesn’t really matter as long as we play the way we know how to play.”\nThe weekend games versus Minnesota and Wisconsin also mark the halfway point of the Big Ten season for IU. It is a season that has so far been plagued with severe weather and a handful of cancellations for many teams around the league. Those canceled games could be the difference between a spot in the conference tournament or a spot on the couch. As teams battle for the right to play in the Big Ten tournament (only the top eight teams can play in the conference’s postseason tournament), the more games a team plays means the more chances they have to put themselves in good position to play in the postseason. The Hoosiers are 1-5 and in ninth place in conference play. Phillips said the team recognizes its opportunity to take advantage of games being played, a position not all teams have been able to enjoy.\n“As you play less games, you don’t play some teams with different competition, there’s a sense of urgency,” Phillips said. “We need to take every opportunity we can to win games in our conference.”\nThe Hoosiers and Badgers already faced off once this season at the Speedline Invitational with Wisconsin winning, 5-0. In that game, the Hoosiers managed five hits but stranded seven runners. \nPhillips said Minnesota has improved after a tough season last year. The fact that the Gophers are in last place in the Big Ten is misleading because they are only 0-2 with the losses coming at the hands of first-place Ohio State. \nPhillips said attacking early is going to be an important key to the Hoosiers success this weekend.\n“I think if we come out and attack the pitches that are in the zone,” said Phillips, commenting on the keys to the games. “Scoring first is going to be a big deal, especially on their fields. Never giving up is also going to be key against both teams.”\nWith revenge on the table and an opportunity to climb in the Big Ten standings, the Hoosiers see a window of opportunity that they must take advantage of if they are to have any hope of playing in the postseason. It all starts with the Gophers and the Badgers.\n“This is a big weekend for us,” said sophomore Sarah Padove. “We’ve had a couple tough games and if we can carry that momentum from the Indiana State win into the weekend, it’s going to be a big deal the rest of the season.”