Baseball takes on a pair of Midwest opponents Tuesday and Wednesday to close out April.

The Huskies (17-26) will take on the Illinois-Chicago Flames (20-17-1) 6:05 p.m. Tuesday at Curtis Granderson Stadium in Chicago. They will return home to host the Valparaiso Crusaders (16-21) 3:05 p.m. Wednesday at Ralph McKinzie Field.

Tuesday’s matchup will be the third time this season NIU and UIC have met. UIC won, 10-0, March 25 in Chicago while NIU won, 11-4, April 14 in DeKalb.

Wednesday’s game against Valparaiso was moved to DeKalb last week after it was originally scheduled to be played at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood. The Crusaders are coached by former NIU pitcher Brian Schmack (1992-95).

The Huskies are coming off a Sunday doubleheader sweep of the Eastern Michigan Eagles, which gave them their first series victory since March 28.

Junior catcher Johnny Zubek earned MAC West Player of the Week honors as he went 7-for-15 (.479) while the Huskies posted a 2-2 record. He hit two home runs, scored seven runs and drove in three runs.