4 r Softball vs. Indiana Friday, 3:30 p.m. Varsity Diamond SPORTS Football Spring Game Saturday, 1 p.m. Michigan Stadium Page 10-' The Michigan Daily Friday, Ap 'M' softball team to battle for first place against Indiana ril 14, 1989 BY JONATHAN SAMNICK The two teams sitting atop the fence of the Big Ten softball standings, Michigan and Indiana University, resume where they left off at the end of last season, with doubleheaders today and tomorrow. While the eighth-ranked Wol- verines count on their seniors and experienced group of younger players, Indiana finds its strength in its enthusiastic group of rookies. In addition to each team's 4-2 conference mark, the Wolverines are 24-10 overall, and the Hoosiers stand at 18-11. The games this weekend promise a battle not only between two of the best teams in the Big Ten but two of the most evenly matched. Both teams find that their success lies in their pitching strength. Michigan relies upon senior Andrea Nelson, who has a 17-3 overall record and a 2-1 Big Ten record. Nelson also posts a 0.80 ERA for the season which includes a near perfect 0.27 ERA in the Big Ten. "To counter Andrea Nelson, we have (pitcher) Theresa Raine who has not given up a run in the Big Ten this season," said Indiana head coach Diane Stephenson. ALONG with Raine, Indiana has 2' / can be seen in the statistics. As a team Michigan is hitting .266 and holding its opponents to a .198 average. The Hoosiers are hitting .261 while holding their opposition to an equally paltry .183. "We lost five seniors form last year's team," Indiana coach Steph- enson said, "and now we have five freshmen starting. But we do have our entire pitching staff returning." The fifth rookie is starting due to a knee injury that junior catcher Margie Ledgerwood suffered earlier in the year. The Hoosiers are hoping that Ledgerwood will be back for this weekend's games. Leading Indiana's group of newcomers is Jene Skarzynski. She is the team's leading hitter with a .333 batting average, while putting in time at both second base and shortstop. "They have the home field advantage and they'll probably be motivated," (Indiana swept Michigan in the final series of last year), Stephenson said. "But there is no dominant team. Whoever can put the ball between the lines is going to win." Allard a pitching staff which goes four deep. Quite a contrast to the Wol- verines, who rely primarily upon Nelson and junior Jenny Allard who is this week's Big Ten Player-of-the- Week and Michigan's leading hitter. Other Hoosier standout hurlers are junior Jill Jensen and sophomore Christy Brown. The similarities of the two teams F-ie Photo Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler will have much to ponder after he sees his squad play in its first scrimmage this weekend. The team opens its regular season September 16, against Notre Dame. Wolverines to scrimmage in annual Spring football game 4 ILinksters travel to Ohio 'State, gY THEODORE COX The Michigan men against the rest oft Intercollegiate Tourna through Sunday on Ohi r. Though The Scarle will be the most deman