IU gears up for conference play

With the Big Ten season opening this weekend, the IU baseball team will look to fine tune itself for conference play today against Saginaw Valley State (10-2) with a 3 p.m. start at Sembower Field. IU (13-2) returned from its spring break in Bradenton, Fla., winning five of six and carrying a three-game winning streak into today's contest.\nCoach Bob Morgan's club will look for increased consistency out of its offense. The Hoosiers, batting .288 as a team, showed flashes of brilliance with three double-digit hit games in Florida but also struggled in back-to-back games with only five hits against Yale and six hits in their only loss to Northeastern.\n"We've just got to continue to keep working offensively and try to cut down on our strike outs because we need to score a few more runs than we have been to extend leads," Morgan said. "Just consistency, being able to move runners, being able to score runners and having more quality at bats at the plate."\nOne Hoosier who has had no problem creating havoc at the plate is sophomore Corby Heckman. Offensively Heckman leads IU. The Spencer, Ind., native is batting .396, slugging an even .500 with an on-base percentage of .408.\nWhile Heckman has been producing usually out of the two or three spot in the lineup, another Hoosier beginning to come on in the middle of the lineup is junior Kevin Mahar. The 6-4, 195 pound 1st baseman is hitting .321 on the season, has started all 15 games and had arguably his best game of the season against Bradley when he went 4-4.\nMahar said increased concentration during every at-bat has improved his numbers.\n"I'm just trying to get more consistent with my swing right now," Mahar said. "I've had some off and on, up and down games."\nMorgan has had no problem finding consistency out of senior pitcher Jacob Cary. When senior and staff ace Nick Vitielliss went out for the season, Morgan said he was concerned about replacing his best pitcher. Cary has relieved some of those doubts. \nIn Florida, Cary was a workhorse, pitching complete games in his two starts. In IU victories over Army and Bradley, Cary (4-0) surrendered only one earned run in both contests while striking out seven and six respectively.\nCary said the number of innings and pitches didn't bother him.\n"I've thrown a lot of innings ever since high school," Cary said. "I think I threw over 100 innings senior year. That's the way I work, throwing a lot of pitches. Throwing 120, 140 doesn't bother me too much."\nLook for Morgan to give the nod today to one of two freshmen, Josh Lewis or Austin Rhoads. Lewis has four appearances with a 7.04 earned run average, while Rhoads counters with a 2-0 record and a .82 ERA.\nNo matter who's pitching or swinging the bat, Morgan said he wants to improve before traveling to Champaign, Ill., this weekend to take on Illinois in the Big Ten season opener. But IU shouldn't relax against Saginaw Valley. The Cardinals compiled a respectable 36-12 record last season while finishing second in the Great Lakes conference.\nIf the Hoosiers are successful, Morgan will move one win closer to 1,000 career wins and setting the stage for Wednesday's home game against Wright State.\n"We've pitched and played defense," Morgan said, "but we've just got to keep working offensively, and I think it'll come"