Senior Nathan Stillwell will get the start for the Huskies as they try to remain unbeaten at home against Division III Wheaton College at 2:30 p.m. today at Ralph McKenzie Field.

After winning a pair of games from Lakeland College by a combined score of 30-2, NIU baseball coach Ed Mathey said he wants his team to continue to execute.

A righthander, Stillwell has struggled in his two starts this season, giving up 10 earned runs in six and two-thirds innings. In his first start of the season against Flagler College (Fla.), he gave up eight runs in one and two-thirds innings.

“Nate has had a couple tough outings,” Mathey said. “Flagler College roughed him up a little. His focus has got to be to throw strike one on the first pitch because once he starts getting behind, the advantage slides over to the hitter.”

Mathey said the Huskies (11-7) impressed him Saturday by going with pitches and not trying to hit every pitch out of the park on a day where wind gusts reached 43 miles per hour.

Patience at the plate will be key for the Huskies, Mathey said. Taking what the pitcher gives while maintaining aggressiveness also will be key.

The top of the order has produced for the Huskies, as leadoff hitter Jeremy Busch and second hitter Eric Sansouci collected nine hits and 11 RBIs in two games over the weekend.

The first four hitters in the Huskies lineup are the top four in team batting average with sophomore Scott Simon leading the way at .486. Sansouci is second at .429, third baseman Rob Marconi is third at .371 and Busch hits at .314.

“Marconi and Simon have been producing all year,” Mathey said. “But Busch and Sansouci have done a tremendous job setting the table for those guys and the team.”

NIU has won 20 of its last 25 games at home, including its first two this year.