The NIU softball team welcomes in the top team in the MAC, Marshall, for three games this weekend.

The Huskies’ (16-15, 6-3 MAC) first doubleheader against MU (34-11, 15-3) is at 4 p.m. today at Mary Bell Field. NIU will play Marshall once more at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Marshall’s MAC leading record happened because of its performance at the plate. The Herd are batting .296 as a team, good for 19th best in the country.

Marshall’s freshman Amanda Williams has become the top hitter for the Herd. This season, Williams is batting .459, placing her 11th in the nation.

However, Marshall is the only team ahead of NIU in the MAC in team batting average. The Huskies as a team are batting .270, but NIU has played 14 fewer games than the Herd.

Losing four of their last six games, the Huskies will have to come up with the same type of pitching Kathy Dearborn displayed against Illinois State on Wednesday. Dearborn held ISU to four hits and no runs.

“We worked our way out of some jams because she made pitches when she needed to,” NIU coach Donna Martin said. “And we were able to make the plays when we had to.”