DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University Softball team wraps up its seven-game homestand when the Huskies play host to Bowling Green for a weekend series at Mary M. Bell Field starting Friday.
 
First pitch for the series opener between the Huskies (14-11, 2-1) and Falcons (15-19, 1-2) is set for 3 p.m. Friday, with a doubleheader scheduled for Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m. All times listed are Central. Live stats will be available for both games one NIUHuskies.com and fans can watch all the action live through NIUTube at NIUHuskies.com. Prices range from $6.95 for a 24-hour pass, $10.95 for a monthly subscription and $89.95 for a yearly pass. Sign up today at NIUHuskies.com.
 
NIU returns to conference play after scoring a 7-4 win over Loyola Wednesday. The Huskies went 2-1 last weekend against Akron, splitting a Friday doubleheader with the Zips and taking the series finale Saturday. NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe is hoping to see improvement in doubleheader play from her squad this weekend.
 
"We've got to have the stamina and the energy and the focus to be able to stay in tune for that long of a day," Sutcliffe said. "I do think that played a role in last weekend. We need to get better at that.
 
"We need to understand the game doesn't know what you did the time before. You've got to prove it every single game."
 
The Huskies are 3-1 and are batting .290. Sophomore Jenny Van Geertry (Mokena, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) and junior Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central) led the way, batting .500.
 
Harnish's bat in particular has heated up in the friendly confines of Mary M. Bell Field. The Huskie catcher, who entered the homestand batting .145, has seen her average jump 55 points courtesy of her 5-for-10 performance at the plate the last four games.
 
"Bekah Harnish had a great weekend," she said. "It was nice to see her bust out of that. We just need to figure out how to produce with Kayti [Grable] and around her."
 
Bowling Green comes into this weekend's losers of seven of its last eight games. The Falcons dropped its series at Central Michigan last weekend. Bowling Green's lone victory on the weekend came in the series finale, a 5-3 decision over the Chippewas.

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