BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn softball team is headed south this weekend, to take on Mount St. Mary's in a doubleheader, Saturday, April 21. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
The Blackbirds (15-24, 4-5 Northeast Conference) will be looking for two big conference wins against the Mountaineers (11-20-1, 1-5 NEC), with just three weeks left in the regular season. LIU is currently in sixth place in the league standings, just one game out of the fourth and final playoff spot.
 
BLACKBIRD BITS
The Blackbirds lead the NEC in the batting average (.285) and total hits (293) so far this season. LIU has three players ranked in top ten in the league in batting average: senior catcher Victoria Zamora (second - .355), junior outfielder Patricia Griffin (fifth - .328), and freshman outfielder Ryleigh Bermea (10^th - .310). Griffin also leads the NEC in hits, with 42, while sophomore Katie Hinkle ranks fourth in the NEC in hits, with 39. And Bermea is second in the NEC in RBI, with 29 so far this year. 
 
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
Mount St. Mary's is also looking to claw its way into the playoff picture, with a 1-5 record in the NEC. The Mountaineers dropped their doubleheader against FDU last weekend, and lost two to league-leader Saint Francis U. Mount's lone win came in a split with Robert Morris in early April.
 
Junior infielder Lindsay Heinze leads the Mount at the plate, with a .315 batting average, and a team-high 22 RBI. She also leads the team with six home runs, seven doubles, and 28 hits. The pitching staff, with a 4.94 combined ERA, is led by sophomore Jordan Weaver (5-10), who has 26 starts, a 4.51 ERA, and a team-high 67 strikeouts. She splits time with junior Katie Olson (3-3), who has a 3.89 ERA in 59.1 innings pitched.
 
UP NEXT
The Blackbirds return home to host three straight games on LIU Field, starting with Rutgers, Wednesday, April 25 at 5:30 p.m. LIU will host the final regular season weekend, welcoming FDU to Brooklyn, Saturday, April 28, for Alumni Day, and then taking on Sacred Heart, Sunday, April 29 for Senior Day. Both doubleheaders next weekend will start at 12 p.m.