BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn baseball team was picked to finish fifth in the Northeast Conference, in a poll of the league's coaches, the NEC announced Friday. The Blackbirds were selected behind 2015 champion Bryant, who earned four first-place votes, along with Sacred Heart, who had three first place votes, with Wagner and CCSU in third and fourth. Fairleigh Dickinson and Mount St. Mary's were tabbed sixth and seventh, respectively.

LIU returns eight starting field players, five starting pitchers and 19 letter winners from last year's squad that finished 16-35 overall, and 9-15 in Northeast Conference play. Under second year head coach Alex Trezza, the Blackbirds will be led by a six-member senior class, along with seven juniors, and are joined by 11 new faces.

LIU returns three All-NEC honorees, including junior captain Tommy Jakubowski, a first team All-NEC honoree, and classmates Mark Hernandez and Bobby Maxwell, who both earned second team nods.

After missing the 2014 season with an injury, Jakubowski came back for the Blackbirds better than before. The outfielder, who started 49 of LIU's 51 games, led LIU in nearly every offensive category and proved to be one of the best hitters in the conference. He led the NEC in both triples (6) and stolen bases (18), and finished fourth in the NEC in hits (60), and total bases (94). The West Deptford, N.J. native was also in the top ten in the league in several other categories, finishing seventh in batting average (.337),  slugging percentage (.528), runs scored (37) and doubles (13).

Hernandez, a second-team All-NEC honoree last season, was named NEC Player of the Week earlier this season. A top hitter for the Blackbirds, he finished fourth in the conference in RBI, driving in 39 runs this season. He was also seventh in the conference in doubles (13). The Miami, Fla. product hit .253 this season with a team-high six home runs.

Maxwell earned the first post-season honors of his career after a strong sophomore campaign. A two-time NEC Pitcher of the Week, the right-hander finished sixth in the NEC in ERA (3.69), and opposing batting average (.262). The Otisville, N.Y. native finished the season with a 5-3 record on the mound in 10 games started, and led LIU with six complete-game performances, including a shutout win over Central Connecticut in the final weekend of conference play. He closed third on the team with 32 strikeouts.

Seniors Brian Lamboy, Chas Lacko, John Knauth, Vincent Tranchina, Luis Rios and Nate Struss will provide leadership for the Blackbirds, along with the team's three co-captains, graduate student Brian Drapeau, Jakubowski, and junior Charles Misiano.

LIU Brooklyn opens the 2016 season on Friday, February 19, with a three-game series at Incarnate Word, in San Antonio, Texas.

2016 Northeast Conference Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
1) Bryant (4)
2) Sacred Heart (3)
3) Wagner
4) Central Connecticut
5) LIU Brooklyn
6) Fairleigh Dickinson
7) Mount St. Mary's

First place votes in parentheses ( ).