A huge early-season test awaits the NIU baseball team this weekend when they travel to Southern Illinois.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” NIU coach Ed Mathey said. “SIU took 2 of 3 from Florida Atlantic which was ranked 20th in the nation, and then beat Central Michigan which was picked to win our division, so they definitely have our players’ attention.”

In a three-game set, NIU will face an SIU team that has won eight in a row, has an overall record of 9-1 and scores an average of 9 runs per game.

“They are a hot team,” said outfielder Brian Toner. “You feel confident in any game you play. A lot of our guys know guys on SIU and are really looking forward to going down there to play.”

NIU will need Toner, the defending MAC player of the week, to keep up his torrid pace against SIU. Toner has hit in six straight games and leads the team with a .417 batting average, one home run and a .583 slugging percentage.

“I remember as an underclassman,” Toner said, “when guys would have good games, I would almost look up to them and say, ‘Hey, if they can do it, so can I.'”

The NIU pitching staff will face a potent SIU lineup. Brian Smith, Nick Hall and Trevor Feeney will try to cool off a powerful SIU lineup that hits .341 as a team, has pounded out 19 doubles, 9 homers and has four players with double-digit RBI’s.

Toner said SIU is a great environment to play a game in and that it is nice to get the season into full swing.

“They have a ton of college kids watching the game, grilling out and cheering,” Toner said. “There are no excuses now, we are getting used to playing with each other and are getting in a normal flow of game series.”

Both teams have seen stellar performances from their bullpens. Matt German has yet to allow a run for NIU in five-innings pitched. The junior-left hander has collected a save and struck out eight.

For SIU, Dusty Baker has three saves, and Adam Snyder is 2-0 with a save.