After losing three of its last four games, the NIU softball team will try to get back on track in a doubleheader against DePaul at 3 p.m. today at Mary Bell Field.

DePaul, who is ranked ninth in the nation, defeated No. 1 UCLA earlier this year.

DePaul’s Lindsay Chouinard threw a complete game shutout against the Bruins. The Huskies most likely will face Chouinard, one of the nation’s finest pitchers, said NIU coach Donna Martin.

“We can’t get behind in the count with her, we need to attack the pitches,” Martin said. “She doesn’t walk a lot of people so you need to hit the pitches you want. She’s a talented and smart pitcher, but everyone’s beatable.”

Paige Shemoski, Lisa Mattke, Kelly Redican and Kathy Dearborn all are batting over .300 for NIU and should fare well against the Blue Demons’ hurlers.

Shemoski has belted three home runs and owns a team-high 19 RBIs.

Dearborn leads the team with four dingers and is third on the team in runs batted in with 13.

NIU most likely will counter Chouinard and junior Sarah Martz with a trio of pitchers. Amy Krahula, Dearborn and Paige Granath should all see time on the mound for the Huskies. Granath is coming off an injury.

“It’s not very often that you get a team like DePaul coming here,” Martin said. “We need to play good defense. We’re excited. It should be warm and it will be a challenge against them.”