After splitting a doubleheader with Loyola on Tuesday, the NIU softball team will host Eastern Michigan for a three-game set to begin conference play.

The Huskies start a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mary Bell Field. The third game starts at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Last season, the Huskies split their games with Eastern Michigan (8-10 overall) on the road.

“It’s going to be a big difference this year from last year,” NIU coach Donna Martin said. “We’ve had the opportunity to practice on our field. We need to win two of three if not all three.”

Last year, pitcher Kathy Dearborn pitched a one-hit shutout against the Eagles.

Amy Krahula and Dearborn both have ERAs of about 2.80. Krahula is 3-5 on the season, while Dearborn is 3-6.

Dearborn gave up two home runs against Loyola, while Krahula followed that game with a shutout, her second of the year.

“Kathy has had three days off,” Martin said. “We worked on some things this week. I don’t see why she can’t do the same thing to Eastern as she did last season.”

Martin said she plans on starting Dearborn and Krahula on Saturday and one of the two again on Sunday.

The Huskies, who have seven extra-base hits in their last eight hits, are led by Shelby Bernard who tops the team with two home runs, six doubles and 12 RBIs.

Kelly Drozd is batting .293 with a team-high 14 runs.

Nikki Denman leads EMU with 32 total bases, 11 RBIs, two homers, six doubles and a .364 batting average.

Michelle Lloyd is 3-1 on the season with a 2.53 ERA. Denman is 1-2 for the year but has a team-leading 0.85 ERA.

“Saturday starts the second season: the conference season,” Martin said. “Our goal is to win the conference and the conference championship. We all start 0-0 at this part of the season. The best ball to play is still in front of us. We’ll see how it goes.”