March 28, 2008

All 11 Big Ten softball teams will begin their conference schedules this weekend.  Michigan travels to Indiana, Minnesota heads to Michigan State, Purdue hosts Penn State, Northwestern entertains Wisconsin and Iowa plays at Ohio State to begin the weekend on Friday.  Illinois will open its conference slate on Sunday against the Buckeyes.

Ohio State won the Big Ten title last season finishing the conference season with a 14-2 record.  The No. 22 Buckeyes look to defend their crown this year, but it will not be easy as nine Big Ten teams currently boast records of .500 or better.  Along with the Buckeyes, two other teams are ranked nationally in No. 6 Michigan (25-3) and No. 16 Northwestern (13-9).

This weekend also marks the first television broadcast of the 2008 Big Ten softball season as the Big Ten Network will air the Penn State at Indiana doubleheader on Sunday, March 30, beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET.  Following those games, the network will also air the Illinois at Ohio State doubleheader as part of a tape-delay broadcast.