IU hopes to improve Big Ten record this weekend

Coming off of a big win against Louisville Wednesday, the Hoosiers are looking to improve their record against conference opponents this weekend as they visit Evanston, Ill., to take on Northwestern and East Lansing, Mich., to take on Michigan State. \nIU (26-25, 2-8 Big Ten) has picked up some momentum after beating Minnesota Sunday, then ousting No. 30 Louisville in extra innings earlier this week. \nThe Wildcats (24-13, 7-5) have been playing great as of late and are looking to extend their season high, six-game winning streak against the Hoosiers. \nNorthwestern is led by freshman pitcher Eileen Canney, who has a 13-2 record along with a 2.40 ERA. Freshman first baseman Garland Cooper leads the Wildcats offensively with a .356 batting average along with six home runs and 25 RBI on the season.\nSophomore Courtnay Foster earned the honor of Big Ten Pitcher of the Week last week when she picked up three wins and struck out 14 batters. \nMichigan State (24-19, 4-8) is looking to snap its three-game losing streak this weekend when the Hoosiers come to town. Freshman Nicole Mercado will try to extend her 13-game hitting streak this weekend and add to her .321 batting average. \nSenior Natalie Furrow leads the Spartans offensively with a .447 batting average and 38 RBIs on the season. Furrow's batting average ranks her tenth nationally among Division I players and is the only player in the Big Ten to rank in the top two in four separate offensive categories. \nMichigan State also features freshman Dayna Feenstra, who hit .529 last week with eight RBIs. \nIU has been preparing for tough weekends like this all season by switching around its lineup and getting different players experience. \nAgainst Louisville coach Sara Hayes Nottger took a gamble in the seventh inning by replacing junior pitcher Katie Witham with freshman Christy Wahl and the Hoosiers clinging to a 2-0 lead. \n"We were just trying to get some experience for players at new positions," Nottger said. "I just wanted to give those pitchers who haven't had much time on the mound some real game experience."\nIU hopes to get its offense flowing early in the weekend. Freshman Tory Yamaguchi has been igniting the IU offense lately -- she recently went 4-4 with an RBI against Louisville. Yamaguchi is currently hitting .308 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs. \nThe Hoosiers face Northwestern at 4 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday. IU then travels to take on the Spartans at noon as part of a double header starting in East Lancing, Mich.