NIU baseball isn’t short on sources of confidence for today’s game.

The Huskies travel to Normal to play Illinois State at 6 p.m.

NIU will look to display its offense, with a third-ranked .291 batting average and fifth-ranked 169 runs scored, against ISU’s last-ranked pitching squad that features the highest ERA in the Missouri Valley Conference at 6.70, nearly two runs more than second-to-last Southern Illinois.

In the April 4 matchup, the Huskies (13-16 overall, 5-4 MAC) used offense to defeat the Redbirds (10-19) 11-8 in DeKalb.

NIU coach Ed Mathey said the win will help the Huskies, but it also may help ISU.

“Guys know it gives them confidence,” Mathey said. “On the other hand, ISU has the revenge factor and they’re on their home field so they want to defend that.”

Another source of confidence is the Huskies’ come-from-behind 5-2 victory Saturday against Kent State, after losing 21-2 Friday.

Mathey said Saturday’s win will help them because it establishes good baseball, compared to a series of bad games that makes them think they’re bad.

ISU is coming off a 14-13 win over No. 23 Creighton, in which the teams combined for 36 hits.

The Huskies have gone 6-1 against teams from the MVC this season.

“I wish I’d known how that was happening so I could bottle it,” Mathey said.