Trying to break out of a slump is rough against any opponent.

The NIU softball team has the daunting task of trying to do it against a ranked opponent on the road.

NIU (14-17) will look to break out of its slump against No. 17 Illinois State (33-9) at 5 p.m. tonight.

The Huskies have lost five of their last seven games, but are coming off a 4-1 win against Valparaiso in the back end of a double-header.

ISU’s ace pitcher, Shannon Nicholson, will likely be on the mound against NIU. Nicholson boasts a 13-4 record and a 1.37 ERA.

“She moves the ball well,” NIU head coach Donna Martin said. “She really changes her speeds and it will be good competition for us.”

As strong as the Redbirds’ pitching is, their hitting has been equally as impressive. They have eight batters hitting above .300, including lead-off hitter Kara Nelson, who, in just her freshman season, is hitting .434.

As if that wasn’t enough, later in the line-up NIU will have its hands full with the senior slugger Kelsey Warning, who leads the team with 12 home runs and 43 RBI.

As far as how to pitch to the Redbirds line-up, Martin’s strategy is simple.

“Try not to,” Martin joked. “We just need to go with what we do best. If we hit our spots, then they will hit the ball at us, which is what we want.”