The softball team needs to make significant improvements as it turns its focus to the start of Mid-American Conference play.

“The dimmest spot is definitely, obviously, our record,” said Head Coach Christina Sutcliffe. “We started out a lot slower than we wanted to.”

The team’s pitching struggles and inability to consistently close out innings are responsible for the Huskies’ (8-18) poor start. It’s the team’s worst start to a season through its first 26 games since Sutcliffe took over the program in 2013.

NIU ranks No. 8 in earned run average and opposing batting average in the MAC. The Huskies are also ranked No. 9 in hits and walks allowed per game. NIU has tallied an 8-5 record when it allows four or less runs, but is 0-13 when it allows five or more runs.

“Our pitching has needed some work,” Sutcliffe said. “They’re working through that and have definitely gotten better.”

The responsibility isn’t entirely on the pitching staff to improve the Huskies’ woes. NIU witnessed a slight uptick in its opponents’ runners left on base average in its wins in comparison to its losses. The fielders need to consistently make plays when the ball is in play.

“[We’ve] got to throw some runners out,” Sutcliffe said. “We’re not doing that consistently.”

Sutcliffe said the team is already improving as the season progresses.

“The bright spot is this past weekend,” Sutcliffe said. “The team just seemed renewed, revived and ready to go. When you start a conference, it’s kind of a start of a new season. They can let the rest of that go and grab the momentum we had this last weekend and get going.”

The Huskies have reduced their walks and the leadoff hits to start an inning as the season has progressed. Sutcliffe said the team brought more power to the plate during its games over spring break with an increase in extra base hits and has become more acclimated with the conditions.

The Huskies have substantial obstacles to overcome if they plan to finish at the top of the MAC West Division as they were predicted to do in the 2018 MAC preseason poll, according to the MAC’s official website. However, sophomore outfielder Kayla Scaperrotta said their improvements are already brewing.

“We went to the [National Fastpitch Coaches Association], and we met with this lady named Carol,” Scaperrotta said. She told us we are coffee beans, [and] if you take a coffee bean and you eat it, it doesn’t taste well in the beginning. That’s how our season was, rocky in the beginning. Once you brew the coffee bean, it has a better taste, and that’s how we’re going to be in the end.”

The Huskies will begin conference play 2 p.m. Friday against Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.