MSU (14-10 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) knows, however, that each of those games and victories came with the comfort of playing at Kobs Field. When the Spartans travel to Champaign, Ill., for a four-game series beginning at 6:35 p.m. today, they won't have the same familiarity with Illinois' field nor will they have the boisterous Kobs Korner cheering section behind them.
The Spartans don't care, even though they are 4-10 away from East Lansing. The players said riding a 10-game winning streak brings so much confidence, they pretty much have forgotten the non-league part of the season.
"This is a big weekend, but we're definitely where we want to be right now," said senior first baseman Scott Koerber, who is coming off a 4-for-4 performance with one home run and three RBI against Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne on Wednesday.
"We're riding high and we'd like to continue that roll."
Koerber, who also is second on the team with a .382 batting average, said winning 10 straight games does make the team feel somewhat invincible, regardless of a poor road record.
MSU manager Ted Mahan said the upcoming series against Illinois might be more challenging than his players think.
"We haven't proven we can win on the road," he said. "If you're going to be a good team, you have to win some games on the road."
Baseball teams around the country traditionally have one motto for success: Win at least three of four home games and, at worse, split on the road. That means this weekend, winning two games is a must.
Illinois (8-14, 1-3) took one of four road games this past weekend against Ohio State and is coming into the game after splitting two games with Western Michigan. And despite sitting in the ninth-place spot, MSU refuses to see Illinois as a doormat Big Ten team.
"We're still going to have to play well to win," said Mahan about the Fighting Illini, who have played just two homes games so far this season. "They had a very tough schedule. They're like us two weeks ago."
Junior right fielder Travis Gulick, who leads the Spartans in home runs (5), RBI (20), triples (3) and batting average (.389), said as well as the Spartans have been playing, he knows a loss is bound to come, especially when playing away from Kobs Field.
"You'd like to win all your games, but it's inevitable that you're going to lose," said Gulick, who will be taking a 20-game hitting streak with him to Champaign. "Losing happens."
"But on the road, we need to win at least two. Good teams win two games. But right now, we feel like we can sweep them."
Big Ten standings
It might be just the second weekend of Big Ten play, but games this week could separate the contenders from the pretenders.
Teams
|
Big Ten
|
Overall
|
|
|
|
MSU
|
4-0
|
4-10
|
Ohio State
|
3-1
|
11-11
|
Indiana
|
2-2
|
18-9
|
Penn State
|
2-2
|
13-11
|
Michigan
|
2-2
|
12-11
|
Minnesota
|
2-2
|
2-11
|
Northwestern
|
2-2
|
12-11-1
|
Purdue
|
2-2
|
11-12
|
Illinois
|
1-3
|
8-14
|
Iowa
|
0-4
|
7-16
|
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Source: bigten.org
Perfect 10
To say the Spartans have been hot as of late would be an understatement. Heading into Illinois this weekend, the Spartans are riding a 10-game winning streak. Here are the results of MSU's past 10 games:
Date
|
Opponent
|
Score
|
|
|
|
| 3/25 |
Grand Valley State
|
13-8
|
| 3/27 |
Western Illinois
|
14-0
|
| 3/27 |
Western
Illinois
|
8-7
|
| 3/29 |
Indiana Tech
|
10-4
|
| 3/30 |
Siena Heights
|
13-1
|
4/2
|
Iowa
|
1-0 (11 inn)
|
4/3
|
Iowa
|
5-4 (9 inn)
|
4/3
|
Iowa
|
6-3
|
4/4
|
Iowa
|
12-1
|
4/7
|
IPFW
|
12-1
|
Source: MSU Sports Information
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