There are many different styles in which teams play softball.

This weekend, NIU will get a look at two distinctly different styles when the Huskies host Miami-Ohio and Ball State in MAC play.

First up for NIU (12-27 overall, 6-10 MAC) is a doubleheader today against Miami (20-24, 10-8) at Mary M. Bell Field in DeKalb at 1 p.m.

The Redhawks have seen some recent struggles, dropping five of their last six.

Like NIU, Miami boasts a big power hitter in Breanna Robinson. The outfielder’s eight home runs trails NIU’s Michelle Nendza by two. Robinson is efficient, however, and she is hitting .346 with 38 RBIs to go along with 11 stolen bases on 11 attempts.

“Our pitchers need to come ready to play,” NIU assistant coach Megan Ciolli said. “Offensively, we need to get people on base and play our game.”

Ball State (33-29 8-10), on the other hand, will show off its small ball at 2 p.m. Saturday and at 1 p.m.Sunday.

The Cardinals are the most aggressive team on the base paths in the MAC. They have three of the top five leaders in stolen bases and are a combined 134-of-173 on the season.

Leading the way is outfielder Lisa Rozanski, who tops the MAC with 38 stolen bases.

Rozanski has also proved she will do what it takes to get on base. The redshirt freshman leads the MAC in reaching base 15 times via hit by pitch.

BSU also has some solid pitching with Elizabeth Milian’s 16-12 record leading the way. The right-hander has a 2.19 ERA, while as a team, Ball State is giving up less than 2 1/2 runs a game.

To keep BSU runners off the base paths, NIU will have to play solid defense, which has been a weak spot all season. In 39 games, the Huskies have 61 errors.

“We will be OK,” Ciolli said. “We did some rearranging of our middle and [catcher] Ashley Clement has quickened her transfer. Keeping them off the bases is going to be the difference in the game.”

The last four games will also be the last of the regular season for NIU. According to Ciolli, finishing the season at home is a big boost for the ball club.

“It’s so nice, the girls are so excited,” Ciolli said. “It’s alumni day and senior day and I’m just hoping we get some good weather.”

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