After a two-day layoff, the NIU baseball team takes its five-game winning streak to Peoria for a double header against the Bradley Braves.

Bradley (10-7) is on a streak of its own, winning seven straight, including a six-game sweep of Hawaii-Hilo in Hawaii. The double header has a seven-inning format instead of the standard nine innings.

“This formula changes things a little,” head coach Ed Mathey said. “It would be like basketball going out there and only playing 35 minutes.”

Redshirt sophomore Adam Holdenrid gets the start in Game 1 for the Huskies (11-7, 3-0) and either Mark Badgley or Cody Beck will pitch in the night game.

Badgley has started four games so far on the young season, but is normally used in relief work. Holdenrid and Beck have combined for only eight and a third innings of work.

With that in mind, Mathey is hoping his offense can score early and often to take some pressure off his pitchers.

“We need to go out there and swing the bats,” Mathey said. “We are going to have some guys out there that aren’t out there consistently.”

Bradley’s lineup looks good on paper, with seven regular position players batting at least .300.

“I just need to keep the ball low,” Holdenrid said. “Throw off-speed pitches for strikes and it should all work out for me.”

Bradley owns an all-time 43-27 record over the Huskies, but NIU has won the last three series and hasn’t lost to BU since March 30, 2005.

“We don’t want to lose to an Illinois team,” Holdenrid said. “We want to be the best in Illinois.”