Big Ten battle on Banks Field crucial for Hoosier revival

In the fifth inning of the first game against Minnesota last week, junior second baseman Jay Brant received a ground ball hop straight to his jaw. Brant left the game and consequently lost his 19-game hitting streak, the longest such streak by a Hoosier this season. \nBut Brant returned. \nIn the fourth and final game against the Gophers he recorded one RBI, three hits and three runs as IU won 8-6. \nSince then, Brant has been on a tear. Wednesday against Miami of Ohio Brant went 3-for-4 including two runs and two doubles hit. He leads IU with 13 doubles on the season and with a .432 batting average. Brant's 48 runs scored and 52 hits also top the Hoosier offense. The Indianapolis native has recorded a hit in 23 of his last 24 games played. \n"I've been able to get into a rhythm, be selective and swing at good pitches," Brant said. "When you keep it simple like that you tend to have good results."\nDespite fielding five errors in the game, IU earned a much needed win against nonconference opponents Miami. Senior right fielder Joe Kemp, currently the Big Ten's RBI leader, also made a relief appearance against the Redhawks. In the final inning, Kemp came in and faced four batters surrendering only one walk and one hit before winning his first save of 2005. \n"Any way that I can go out and help the team get a win is always good," Kemp said. \nIU returns to Big Ten play this weekend as the team travels to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes in a four-game set at Banks Field including a doubleheader on Saturday. The 11-15 University of Iowa comes off a thrilling 8-7 victory with a run in the bottom of the ninth against Northern Illinois. \n"If we go up there and pitch, play defense, and swing the bats well we can play with anybody in the Big Ten," Kemp said. "We definitely want to go up there and win three games at all cost."\nThe Hawkeyes' win extended their streak to four games. It also gives Iowa six victories in their last eight games. The Hoosiers are 2-6 so far this season in conference play and attempt to reach .500 with a sweep of this weekend's series. \n"We have got to be consistent with all phases of the game," said IU coach Bob Morgan. "We are making the game too hard for ourselves. We have got to cut down the errors, concentrate, and execute."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Andrew Shaffer at asshaffe@indiana.edu.