Conference fate might lie on series

The Hoosiers head to Minnesota this weekend for a crucial series with the Golden Gophers.\nIU needs to win the four-game series to stay close to first-place Ohio State, which has a two-game lead over IU and Michigan State. The Hoosiers and Spartans are 9-6 in conference, and Minnesota follows in fourth place with one less win.\nThree of IU's last four Big Ten series are away from the friendly confines of Sembower Field, making the journey to Big Ten greatness even rockier.\nBut Ohio State doesn't have it easy either. The Buckeyes lost to Division III Wooster this week and still have to play three of the top five teams in the Big Ten, including Michigan State on the road.\nAt this point, Michigan State looks to be in the best position to catch the Buckeyes. The Spartans play one top five team along with sixth-place Illinois and the two worst teams in the conference -- Iowa and Penn State.\nBut the Hoosiers cannot rely on other top teams to lose. IU's fate rests in its own hands, and the race for first place could go down to the wire.\nFirst, the Hoosiers will need to get by the defending Big Ten Tournament champion Golden Gophers, which will not be an easy task. Minnesota took three of four games last year from the Hoosiers, and the Golden Gophers lead the series 74-28.\nOn paper, IU owns the advantage in pitching and hitting, but home field advantage for Minnesota could act as the spoiler for the Hoosiers.