BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The 2019 LIU Brooklyn softball team will head to Florida this weekend for the team's third tournament of season, the Jacksonville Classic. Hosted by Jacksonville from Feb. 22-24, LIU will open on Friday against Harvard (1:00 p.m.), followed by two games against Delaware (Fri., 3:30 p.m. and Sat. 1:00 p.m.), before facing the host Dolphins twice to finish up the event on Saturday (6:00 p.m.) and on Sunday (12:30 p.m.).
LAST WEEK'S RECAP
Two freshmen, Elena Valenzuela and Samantha Garcia, were a highlight of the Blackbirds' 2-3 week, as the Blackbirds beat UMass and Stetson. Valenzuela was the winning pitcher in each game, going 2-1 overall in 19.0 innings, with a 2.84 earned run average and seven strikeouts. Garcia hit the first two home runs of her collegiate career with a solo blast in each game on Saturday, versus Villanova and then against Troy. Senior Schae Dickson had a fantastic game in the win over UMass, with a two-run home run to to give the Blackbirds a 4-2 lead and a two-RBI single in the eighth to lead the LIU attack. Also on the mound, junior Haley Irvis' seven K's last week now give her 21 for the season, which ranks first in the NEC.
THE OPPONENTS
Harvard
2019 Record: 0-0, 23-18 in 2018
LIU Record vs. the Crimson: 0-2 all-time; last game: 1992 (2-0 loss).
Top Player: Alyssa Steinmetz, Sr., C, .429 batting average, 2 HR, 7 runs scored
Top Pitcher: Sarah Piening, Jr. SP, 3-1, 3.41 ERA, 14 strikeouts
Delaware
2019 Record: 4-4
LIU Record vs. the Blue Hens: 3-3 all-time; last game: 2017 (6-1 loss).
Top Player: Erin Stacevicz, Sr., OF, .367 batting, 37 runs scored in 2018
Top Pitcher: Kiara Oliver, So. SP, 17-4, 1.80 ERA, 156 Ks in 2018
Jacksonville
2019 Record: 4-5
LIU Record vs. the Dolphins: 2-1 all-time; last game: 2006 (2-0 win).
Top Player: Kassidy Cross, Jr., OF, .346 batting, 6 runs scored
Top Pitcher: Alyssa Bilodeau, Jr.. RP, 1-1, 1.69 ERA, 29 IP, 19 K's
TOURNAMENT COVERAGE: There will be Live Stats for each game of the tournament. Links can be found on the LIU Softball schedule page.