Maybe it’s not all beachballs and bathing suits for the NIU softball team, but being outside the last few days is a welcome relief.

After weeks of foul weather that forced the team to practice indoors, Huskie head coach Dee Abrahamson sent her troops outside the last two days in preparation for this weekend’s University of Missouri Mizzou Round Robin.

“By being outside we got a chance to go over a lot of situations that we can’t go over inside,” Abrahamson said Thursday. “We set up some play situations yesterday and we got in some outfield practice and hitting practice. I think the players prefer being outside.”

NIU will use its under-the-sun practice starting at noon Saturday against Oklahoma (12-30) and 2 p.m. against host Missouri (26-13). The Huskies will then face OU at 10 a.m. Sunday and UM at 2 p.m..

After a doubleheader victory over Illinois State Tuesday, NIU carries a 24-5 record into the tournament along with a No. 9 national ranking, the highest ever for the Huskie softball team. Last year NIU came close with a No. 10 ranking.

As the softball season heads into the closing weeks, each game gains importance, and Abrahamson is well aware of what is at stake.

“The better we do, the more in control we are of our destiny,” Abrahamson said. “We look to gather some momentum this weekend and get things going for the last two weeks of the regular season schedule.”

A clean bill of health is the report from Abrahamson on her team—except for the usual bumps and bruises. One player the Huskies like to see healthy is senior pitcher Beth Schrader. The Academic All-America’s record stands at 13-2 this season, while freshman Kristin Vandenhouten boasts a perfect 6-0 record.

Offensively, the Huskies are coming off two productive games. The second game of the ISU doubleheader saw the Huskies pound in eight runs.

All-America Jill Justin remains the leading Huskie slugger with a .447 batting average. Oklahoma, on the other hand, has been struggling offensively. Sandy Ochoa (.341) is the only Sooner with a batting average higher than .300.