Search for first conference win continues

Going into its final weekend of Big Ten competition, the IU softball team is still in search of its first win in conference play. The Hoosiers play host to both Penn State and Ohio State for two games apiece this weekend.\n"We definitely need to win that game in the Big Ten," IU coach Diane Stephenson said. "I just wish we could win one good, close game against a tough opponent because I think that we have a great group of kids, and they deserve to be winning. We just haven't been able to get it done."\nIU (13-28-1, 0-14 Big Ten) and Penn State (27-21, 8-8) will square off at 4 p.m. today and again at noon tomorrow at the IU Softball Field. No. 20 Ohio State (46-9, 13-3) comes to town for a doubleheader Sunday that is slated to begin at noon.\nHeading into the weekend, Penn State is led by outfielder Gina Bianchini, who is hitting .344 on the year. Three other Nittany Lions are hitting above .300, including third baseman Jennifer Tripken, who also has 12 home runs.\nWith the Big Ten tournament two weeks away, Penn State and Ohio State will be looking to solidify their bids to be one of the six competing teams for the title. Penn State currently sits in seventh, and Ohio State leads the conference with its 13-3 mark. Sophomore hurler Marisa Hanson leads the Nittany Lions with 12-10 record and a 1.38 ERA. Hanson is also limiting opposing hitters to a measly .197 batting average.\nSenior Brooke Monroe believes the Hoosiers will need to battle tough this weekend but hopes they can pull an upset of the Nittany Lions or Buckeyes.\n"We just need to keep fighting, not giving up on each other and not giving up on the coaches," Monroe said. "With us being the underdog, we are going to go in and try to knock them off."\nOhio State is led in hitting by outfielder Anna Smith, who is batting .521 with seven triples and 60 runs. The Buckeyes have a total of six everyday players hitting above .300 and are led by Stacy Roth's 13 home runs. Sophomore Wendy Allen paces an impressive Ohio State pitching staff that has a staff ERA of 1.47 with 19 shutouts. Allen has a 0.93 ERA and is one of three Buckeye pitchers with 14 wins or more on the year.\nThe Hoosiers will look for another strong performance out of freshman pitcher Katie Witham. Witham delivered her second career shutout Tuesday at Ball State to lower her ERA to 3.00. Junior Stormy Hanson continues to lead the Hoosier hitters with a .269 batting average, 11 doubles and seven home runs.\nThe Hoosiers will have history on their side against both Penn State and Ohio State as they have dominated both schools in head-to-head competition. The Hoosiers have a 25-9 record against the Nittany Lions and a 50-17 advantage over the Buckeyes. Penn State and Ohio State, however, have fared better in more recent meetings. Penn State has taken six out of the last seven games against the Hoosiers, and Ohio State has won three of the last four against IU, including two shutouts last season.\nHanson said it will be key for the Hoosiers to have a solid all-around game to be successful and said the team hopes to take more than just a game in this weekend series.\n"The biggest thing in order for us to win this weekend is to play solid defense and have our offense produce runs," she said. "I think at least confidence-wise that to finish the season with one win would probably be great, but obviously we would like to go into this weekend and have more than one win"