Baseball will look to start on the right foot under first-year head coach Mike Kunigonis with a quartet of games this weekend at the Governors Challenge in Clarksville, Tenn.

The Huskies take on the South Dakota State Jackrabbits 11 a.m. Friday. Saturday they take on the Niagara Purple Eagles 2:30 p.m. and the Austin Peay Governors 6 p.m. They close the weekend against Austin Peay 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

History lesson

The meetings with South Dakota State and Niagara will be the first time in program history NIU has faced either team.

NIU is 14-40-1 (.263) on opening day since joining Division I in 1968.

The last time the Huskies won their first game of the season was Feb. 24, 2001, when they swept Tennessee-Martin in a doubleheader.

Experienced veterans

The Huskies bring back seven bullpen pitchers and five starters in the field.

The Huskies have the middle of the infield sewn up, with juniors Justin Fletcher and Brian Sisler up the middle. Sisler led the Huskies in batting average (.304), on-base percentage (.406), slugging percentage (.369), doubles (19) and walks (29).

Senior Ben Neumann was solid coming out the bullpen for the Huskies in 2014. He went 4-0 in relief appearances and posted a 1.86 ERA in 29 innings of work.

Potential pitching rotation

Friday vs. South Dakota State: LHP Ben Neumann

Saturday vs. Niagara: RHP Dirk Ormsby

Saturday vs. Austin Peay: RHP Joe Ceja

Sunday vs. Austin Peay: LHP Ryan Olson