Softball will look to avoid its first four-game losing streak of the season when it welcomes the Valparaiso Crusaders to town Tuesday.

First pitch of the doubleheader between the Huskies (19-17) and the Crusaders (9-27) is set for 2 p.m. at Mary M. Bell Field.

The Huskies are coming off a weekend in which they swept by the Western Michigan Broncos. They lost, 8-5 and 5-4, putting their losing streak at three games.

NIU has lost three games in a row three times this season. But, it has responded with at least two wins a row following its first pair of three-game slides.

The Crusaders rank third in the Horizon League in batting average and second in runs scored despite a 9-27 overall record and a 3-8 mark in conference play.

For the Huskies, the offense continues to be led by junior Emily Naegele and sophomore Kayti Grable. Naegele has a slash line of .500/.567/.846 in eight games in April. Grable is batting .438 with 46 hits, eight home runs and 32 RBIs in 36 games this season.