NIU softball coach Donna Martin knows that hitting comes and goes in softball.

This weekend she hopes her suffering offense can put a few hits together against Mid-American Conference rival Ball State University.

The Huskies are set to play BSU three times this weekend, beginning with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Saturday. The third game originally was scheduled for Friday, but because of weather conditions, it was postponed to Sunday.

NIU (9-20 overall, 4-3 in the MAC) enters Saturday’s games following a couple of disappointing losses to Northwestern on Wednesday.

“Those games were non-conference, so I am not that concerned because our bats have straightened out in our conference games,” Martin said. “Our hitters are more familiar with BSU.”

BSU (16-0 overall, 5-0 in the MAC) comes to Mary Bell Field riding a nine-game winning streak, which included a three-game sweep of Eastern Michigan last weekend.

The Cardinals are lead by catcher Britni Clark, who was named MAC West Divisional Player of the Week after hitting .750 batting average and 1.00 slugging percentage against EMU.

“We are not going to change anything against her (Clark); she first has to show us that she can hit our best stuff,” said Martin.

Martin will send her workhorse senior Courtney Witvliet to the mound this weekend. Witvliet has pitched a total of 78.2 innings this season, compiling a 5-6 record with a 2.14 ERA.

“If our bats come alive and we get some solid pitching and defense, I think we can beat BSU,” said Martin.

Junior Samantha Knoll will look to spark the NIU offense this weekend. Knoll leads the Huskies in almost all offensive categories including batting

average(.316), hits(30) and run batted in(15).