DeKALB | After grinding out its first ever series win over Miami-Ohio this past weekend, the NIU baseball team goes back in action at 3 p.m. today in a home game versus St. Xavier University.

The game wasn’t on the schedule at the beginning of the season, but was added last week after the Huskies (20-11) had their last two weeks of day home games postponed because of weather.

The St. Xavier Cougars (16-12) compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) and are a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Coach Ed Mathey tried to schedule a Division-I team but none were available. However, Mathey knows not to take this team lightly, considering they went to the NAIA World Series last year.

“They are gonna come out here ready to play,” Mathey said. “But we‘re looking to get some different guys in and that‘s why this game is important.”

Freshman Cody Beck will be making his first collegiate start for the Huskies and Mathey is hoping his team’s offense can make things a bit easier for the Hanover Park native.

“He’ll be excited and have some emotions going,” Mathey said about Beck. “We need to score runs and give him some early support.”

Seven players on the St. Xavier squad who have played in at least 17 of its 28 games so far this season are hitting .300 or better. However, NIU has some bats of its own, as five regulars are hitting .300 or better and, as a team, NIU is batting .296.