Softball will open a six-game homestand with a double-header today against Loyola University.

The first game is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Mary M. Bell field in DeKalb. The Huskies (11-23, 1-5 MAC) will have a tough opponent coming in to play, with the Ramblers (16-12) winning four out of the last five games.

The Ramblers are finding success in their games by outpitching and outhitting their opponents, a simple but not always replicable formula. On the year, the Ramblers have hit 12 more home runs than their opponents, hit more extra base-hits, and their pitching has struck out more opposing batters. The Loyola pitching staff has tossed 17 complete games, six of those shutouts.

NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe believes the emphasis will be on what NIU can do, especially in regard to keeping the total batters faced down. She believes the real sticking point for accomplishing that will be eliminating extra chances and at-bats via a route other than hits.

“I think they have a good combination of speed and RBI producers getting it done,” Sutcliffe said. “We have to do what we can do from keeping the lineup from turning over and giving them free bases. We’ve kind of been struggling with the walks and hit by pitches, which obviously gets their better hitters more at bats throughout the game.”

The Ramblers’ pitching staff has walked more batters than NIU’s at a total of 103 versus 82, but the Huskies have hit 31 batters to Loyola’s 20.

NIU will come into the double-header on three days rest, while Loyola will come in having played five games in the last four days, including the Purdue game Tuesday.

Sutcliffe believes both sides of the coin can be viewed in this situation when it comes to the timing of this game.

“You can look at it either way: You would kind of think that we would be better well-rested off of [our] California [trip]…[but] I think it hurt us because we were on a roll and it got us off our groove,” Sutcliffe said. “With them playing well, they could continue on with that.”

Sutcliffe believes both teams may have to contend with the elements as the threat of rain impinges on the double-header schedule.

While Loyola is a non-conference opponent and provides no bearing on the Huskies’ MAC tournament hopes, senior Amanda Sheppard believes the games are just as important to win.

“I think you have to take it the same-way you would take a conference game,” Sheppard said. “These games are going to make you better. If you have that mindset going in, conference games will be that much easier.”