DEKALB | It’s time to bounce back for the NIU softball team.

Coming off a weekend in which it went 1-3 in conference, NIU will return to Mary M. Bell Field at 3 p.m. today for a double header against Valparaiso. The second half of the double header will start at approximately 5 p.m.

The Huskies (14-17) allowed an average of 5.75 runs per game last weekend. In contrast, the Huskies only scored an average of 2.5 runs per game.

NIU head coach Donna Martin acknowledged after the weekend that her team did not hit the ball well. Trying to attain offensive consistency has been a theme for the young team this year.

Of the 17-person roster, 11 are freshmen or sophomore players.

Valparaiso’s (15-8) roster displays quite the opposite. Only seven of its 20 players are freshmen or sophomores.

This veteran team has shown it can protect a lead. The Crusaders are 11-1 when going into the fourth with a lead.

However, Valparaiso has not been able to come back in many games. When going into the fourth trailing, the Crusaders are 1-6.

Valparaiso has also done well this season keeping its opponents to three runs or less.

The Crusaders are 11-1 when their opponents score two runs or less. Comparatively, they have a 7-3 record when opponents score three or more runs.

NIU has scored three or more runs in 16 of its 31 games this season.

NIU’s Krista McPherson is batting .354 in the lead off position including five double. The junior currently leads the team in batting average for those with more than 10 at bats. McPherson is also a perfect 7 for 7 in stolen bases this season.