On a good day, the temperature here in DeKalb could reach the high 50’s over spring break.

The NIU baseball team won’t have to worry about that as it prepares for a spring break under the warm Florida sun.

Each of NIU’s eight games over break will be played in the Sunshine State. NIU (2-4) will look to surpass the .500 mark during that stretch, and it all starts Saturday afternoon when the Huskies face the University of Maine (2-2) in Palm Beach, Fla.

The Black Bears are coming off a 3-1 loss to 34th-ranked Florida Atlantic University, and will present a line-up in which five of the regular position players are batting .300 or better at the plate.

“We are playing some pretty good programs on this trip,” NIU head coach Ed Mathey said. “Being early in the season, I imagine they’re [Maine] like us and will be pretty rested going into this weekend.”

Sophomore Brandon Copp will get the start on the mound for the Huskies Saturday, and Trevor Feeney will go the next day versus Long Island University. Copp has allowed five runs in 5.2 innings pitched, and has only two strikeouts, compared to seven walks issued. Feeney is 0-1 with six strikeouts.

Mathey is hoping his starters can go out and pitch seven or eight good innings, and also wants his team to continue progressing on the defensive end.

“We need to get our D going and see what our strengths are,” Mathey said.

The rest of the trip will feature the Huskies facing Florida Atlantic and Manhattan University one time each, while playing New Jersey Tech and Fordham university twice each during the one-week trip under the Florida sun.

The Huskies will have to adjust to getting into the regular swing of things, as they will be playing eight games in seven days.

“This trip will help us settle into the season,” Mathey said. “The weather will be warm down there and it could be a factor.”