Road trip begins against in-state rival

Beginning today in Terre Haute, the Hoosiers embark on a torturous eight-game road trip over eight days, as they battle the Indiana State Sycamores of the Missouri Valley Conference in a double header starting at 2 p.m.\nIU (10-12) has won three of their last five games and is coming off a four-game split of the Indiana Classic this weekend against IUPUI and Detroit Mercy. The Hoosiers are .500 in just four games on the road thus far but will have played 12 road games by next Wednesday. \nAfter 22 games last season, the Hoosiers virtually held an identical 9-12-1 record, but the attitude of some players has dramatically changed. \n"This year I feel more successful," junior Abby Stark said. "There is just something about this team that once we decide to do it, we can be very successful. I don't think 10-12 is very indicative of how we are playing."\nCoach Sara Hayes said she realizes the importance of playing well and eliminating some of the mistakes as the team heads into this weekend's Big Ten opener in Columbus, Ohio. \n"We are still very inconsistent," Hayes said. "We need to go into Big Ten play without any negatives."\nOne continuing positive theme for the Hoosiers this season has been the play of senior Stormy Hanson who leads the team in nearly every offensive category. Her .406 batting average, eight doubles, three home runs, 16 runs batted in and .739 slugging percentage are all team leading. \nOne offensive category that is not headed by Hanson is runs, where junior Valerie White is the team leader with 17 and is second to Hanson with 24 hits. \n"I expect to do really well," White said. "We've been having a really rough week and a half. But we showed some signs Saturday, and I hope we can carry that into tomorrow. As long as everyone comes to play, then I think that we're going to do really well."\nOverall IU is 45-17 against intrastate rival Indiana State but had both scheduled meetings cancelled last season. The Sycamores are 6-13, 1-5 in Missouri Valley Conference play, having lost 10 of 13 after winning their opening three games of the season. \nISU is led by junior Sarah Kothe who leads the team with a .333 batting average and a .471 slugging percentage. ISU has been outscored 93-41 by their opponents and have a .216 team batting average. \n"We are not overlooking Indiana State," Hayes said. "We are not sure on our end which of our teams will show up to play"