NIU (20-21 overall, 11-7 MAC) vs. Central Michigan (22-20, 9-8)

3 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday

COACH’S TAKE

NIU

“[CMU] is coming in here and they’ll be ready to play at a high level and we have to be ready to go,” head coach Ed Mathey said. “We have to continue to execute hit-and-runs, get the bunts down and being opportunistic when we get guys in scoring position.”

CMU

Head coach Steve Jaska could not be reached for comment.

LAST TIME OUT

NIU

The Huskies picked up a 5-3 win over UW-Milwaukee behind the strength of starter Matt Jernstad’s arm Tuesday afternoon. Jernstad improved to 2-4 on the year after pitching 8 2/3 innings against the Panthers. Third baseman Jordin Hood picked up two RBIs and scored two runs as he extended his hitting streak to 15 games.

CMU

The Chippewas edged Toledo in the final game of a three-game series April 27. Third baseman Noah Lankford went 4-for-4, finishing a home run shy of the cycle. Chippewas starter Steve Teno delivered eight innings, allowing one run on five hits and striking out eight.

KEY PLAYERS

NIU

Hood is batting .315 on the year with five home runs and 32 RBIs. The sophomore leads the Huskies in league play with a .380 batting average, 20 RBIs and a .606 slugging percentage.

CMU

NIU pitching will have to contain Lankford, last week’s MAC West Player of the Week. The senior is batting .314 on the year and .484 in 17 games of MAC play.

“They have several guys that are dangerous,” Mathey said. “If we don’t make the right pitches, they’ll definitely hit it out of the park. Our job is to limit the amount of free bases we give them.”

VITAL STAT

NIU

Speed on the base paths leads to manufacturing runs. The Huskies lead the MAC in stolen bases with 67. Shortstop Bobby Stevens leads NIU with 18 stolen bases on 21 attempts, good for second in the MAC. The junior is 9-for-10 in the base paths in MAC play.

CMU

The Chippewas look to continue their trend of keeping hitters in the park this weekend. The Huskies have pounded out 21 home runs in MAC play – the third-highest in the league – while CMU has allowed only eight – fewest in the MAC.