As classes come to a close, the Big Ten baseball race is just beginning.

With the top six teams in the conference at the end of the season eligible for the playoffs and the bottom four left to ponder an early summer vacation, each series becomes of increasing importance.

This weekend, the Indiana Hoosiers (27-15, 10-10 Big Ten) come to Beaver Field for a four-game series against the Penn State Nittany Lions (18-21, 10-10) in a pivotal Big Ten matchup.

The teams have identical records and are tied for fourth place in the conference and are not immediately in danger of missing the playoffs, which might seemingly take some of the drama from the otherwise charged games. However, Michigan sits at 9-9 in the conference, and Purdue at 8-11, meaning the race is far from run.

After losing six straight games, including a four-game sweep at Minnesota, the Lions have come storming back and have won five of their last six. Following a sweep of James Madison in Wednesday's doubleheader at Beaver Field, Penn State right fielder Derrick Barr said the team is trying to take three of four games from the Hoosiers this weekend.

"They're some big games," Barr said. "We're just going to try to hit the ball and get some good pitching. We usually do in our Big Ten games."

Penn State will send right-hander Clayton Hamilton to the mound today against the Hoosiers. Although he has struggled somewhat in his last two starts -- a loss to Minnesota and a win against Northwestern -- the junior ace still maintains a 4.22 earned run average and has struck out 35 batters.

Dueling against the Penn State staff will be a talented rotation of Hoosiers. Indiana pitchers have combined for a 4.06 earned run average, third best in the Big Ten, while handcuffing opposing hitters to a mere .259 batting average.

Perhaps the strongest member of the staff is left-hander Chris Behrens, a hulking 6-foot-6 starting pitcher who has compiled a slender 2.05 earned run average and a sleek 4-2 record in nine starts. The dominating junior has allowed just six extra-base hits in 44 innings of work this season.

When the Indiana arms haven't been lively, the bat of Hoosiers third baseman Vasili Spanos has been. The senior is currently leading the Big Ten with a .401 batting average and stands fourth in the conference race with 37 runs scored.

Penn State left fielder Wes Reohr is looking forward to the challenge. Last week's conference player of the week came out slugging against the Dukes on Wednesday and went 3-for-7 from the plate with a run scored and two runs batted in. Following the game, Reohr said he's been more alert at the plate recently.

"I'm trying to stay a little more focused at bat right before I step in the box," Reohr said. "I've been hitting the ball well. It's been one of those streaks."

Both teams will be looking to get on hot streaks of their own if they want to contend for the Big Ten postseason.