A new conference season could start strongly today for the NIU men’s baseball team.

The Huskies (8-7) will begin Mid-American Conference play when they travel to Ball State for a four-game series. The Cardinals were chosen as a preseason favorite in the MAC, but are struggling now with a 7-11 record in the wake of an eight-game losing streak.

“This is a different season when we start [today],” Huskies coach Dave Schrage said. “This is a season where if we’re gonna go to the tournament, it starts on this weekend.”

The Huskies are coming off their home-opener Wednesday, when they split a doubleheader with Chicago State. Senior Don Rodman pitched a complete Game 2 and picked up the 4-3 win. If NIU wants to make a statement this weekend, it needs similar pitching performances from Stephen Ayers, Steve Hardman, Brad Gavelek and Dan Badgley.

The Huskies’ bats also must stay lively. As a team, they currently are hitting .302, compared to the .267 they hold their opponents to. Jason Ciarrachi comes into this weekend’s series on a 13-game hitting streak.

However, NIU isn’t doing everything it should to reach its full potential, Schrage said.

“We need to make some definite improvements and some changes,” he said. “When you’re building a program and you have some success, the kids tend to relax a little. It’s happened to us. Our biggest change has to be that we play hard all day, whether we’re up or down.”