With the postseason looming, the NIU softball team displayed the offensive firepower needed for the upcoming Mid-American Conference tournament.

The Huskies pounded 23 hits during three games last weekend, as NIU won two of three games at Buffalo. The Huskies (12-23 overall) hope to keep the bats cracking as they head into today’s double-header at Illinois State.

The Huskies will need to have their hitting on track today should they face Redbird ace Nicole Kurth. Kurth leads ISU (24-12) with a 1.18 ERA and has struck out batters at a monster pace. Winning 16 of 19 games, Kurth has fanned 174 sluggers in 124 innings. While today’s non-conference matchup with the Redbirds will provide NIU a tuneup for this weekend’s MAC matchup against Eastern Michigan, NIU hopes to carry some momentum after Saturday afternoon’s 5-2 win.

After starting the year 1-11, the Huskies have rebounded, going 11-12 since, including a 4-1 win over then-first place Ball State.

“We’re playing more as a team,” outfielder Kelly Redican said. “We’re more intense for games. That’s how its needs to be getting into the [MAC] tournament and going into conference games.”

Redican helped seal the victory in Saturday’s third game, going 3-for-3 at bat and drilling an RBI in the third inning. For the weekend, the freshman went 5-for-10 with with four runs and two RBI. While NIU’s bats came to life up at the plate, senior pitcher Courtney Witvliet (8-7) continued her consistent play earning MAC Pitcher of the Week honors after after notching two victories last weekend. She struck out 17 batters in 14 innings while finishing with an 0.50 ERA

Senior Suzie Rizek heated up her bat in the opening 6-0 win Friday. The left fielder batted in a season-high four RBI on Friday, giving her nine for the year. After struggling at the plate, Rizek has heated things up, ranking fifth on the team in batting average, while she has posted a .333 average during MAC play.

“Suzie was really on today,” coach Donna Martin said Friday. “She’s really starting to swing the bat better and is becoming more of a threat … It’s nice when she can carry us for a game.