Last weekend against Ohio, the NIU baseball team’s bats exploded for 50 hits. But when MAC foe Akron arrives this weekend, the Huskies will run into one of the toughest pitchers they’ve faced yet.

NIU will place its four-game win streak on the line as it hosts Akron for a three-game set at 2 p.m. today at McKinzie Field. Saturday and Sunday’s games are both scheduled for 1 p.m.

Akron’s (6-14 Overall, 1-2 MAC) main weapon is No. 1 pitcher, senior Ross Liersemann. The right-handed Liersemann has been dominant this season, leading the conference with 51 strikeouts in 49.1 innings. Coupled with his gaudy strikeout numbers is a 4-2 record with four complete games and a staff-leading 2.55 ERA.

“I remember facing him last year,” NIU outfielder Brian Toner said. “He’s a hard thrower. He doesn’t walk a lot of people. He’ll try to get ahead, throw a lot of fastballs. All we got to do is sit back, keep it simple, and don’t try to do too much.”

Unfortunately for the Zips, Liersemann has been the only consistent pitcher as no other hurler on the staff sports an ERA under 5.90. Akron surrenders 7.62 runs per game, second worst in the MAC.

One beneficiary of a weak bullpen would be freshman center fielder Pat Minogue who has quietly led NIU (9-13, 2-1) with a .383 batting average and is riding a streak of five-straight multi-hit games.

But pitching woes have not affected Akron’s bats. Led by sophomore first baseman/catcher Kurt Davidson, the Zips are hitting .293 as a team, just higher than NIU. Davidson’s .368 batting average, six home runs and 18 RBIs all lead the team.

Minogue wasn’t sure if the weekend would turn into a slugfest.

“Here at the Ralph, it depends if the wind is blowing out,” Minogue said. “If we can put the ball in play and play good defense, hopefully we can keep them from running up the score. Our pitchers have been doing a great job and if they keep throwing strikes, we’ll be in good shape.”