Baseball coach Ed Mathey came to NIU last season and said the team’s goal was to win the MAC. The Huskies came one inning away from advancing to the championship game.

This season, the goal is the same, and the Huskies will try to meet it starting today at the MAC opener at Ball State (11-10 overall, 1-2 MAC).

The Huskies (12-11) will take on the Cardinals for a three-game series with the first game slated for a 3 p.m. start.

The MAC decided to make conference series three games this season, down from four last year. This gets rid of the doubleheader on Saturday to play just one game each day of the weekend

“You’re either going to lose ground or gain ground,” Mathey said. “There are no splits. I think the new format is a good idea.”

The Huskies will send senior Joe Piekarz to the mound in Game 1, while left-hander Zach Minor will showcase his 4-0, 1.41 ERA on Saturday.

Nick Hall will start the finale for the Huskies on Sunday.

“You have to start your two aces in the first two games,” Mathey said. “If you save one of them until Sunday and the weather is bad, then you don’t even get to use one of your best pitchers in a conference series. If we win the first two games, it will put the pressure on them instead of Nick Hall.”

BSU first baseman Brad Miller is second in the MAC with eight home runs. Power has been a problem for NIU, which has 12 home runs as a team.

Ball State is the preseason favorite to win the MAC West. The Huskies own a slight 22-21-1 edge in the all-time series.

NIU has won its last two conference openers but is 6-8 against the Cardinals at Ball State.

The Huskies are on a season-long four-game losing streak after a 14-5 loss at home Wednesday to Bradley.

“We lined up a tough non-conference schedule to prepare us for conference,” Mathey said. “I think the guys are excited for it to start, especially with how last season ended for us.”