The Iowa baseball team opens the Big Ten race this afternoon with the first of a four-game series at Michigan State. First-year coach Jack Dahm feels the Hawkeyes are ready for the league race. He says they’re more prepared for conference play than they were a month ago. He says they’re 6-12, but can start all over now in the conference. Dahm feels the Spartans will be a tough opponent. He says they’re very good offensive ballclub and have an all-conference pitcher returning.As to where the Hawks would like to finish in the conference race Dahm says they are not being specific. He says they’re just talking about qualifying for the Big Ten Tournament with a top six conference finish, and then doing well once they get there. Dahm says they would like to get a couple of wins this weekend. He says going 2-2 on the road would be good, though he says they’d like to go 4-0, but says that’s not always realistic.