BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The LIU Brooklyn softball team, currently on a five-game win streak, is California Bound this weekend for the UCSB Gaucho Classic in Santa Barbara. 2019 will mark the first time in the event for the Blackbirds (8-6), who swept all four games in the Jacksonville Classic last weekend.
Hosted by UC-Santa Barbara, from February 28-March 3, LIU will open on Friday against Bowling Green State (12:00 p.m., ET) on Friday followed the host team later the same day (4:30 p.m. ET), before California, who has received votes in the NFCA National poll, on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. The Blackbirds will then play a pair against Pacific on Friday at 6:30 p.m. (ET) and in the finale on Sunday at noon (ET).
4-0 IN JAX; VALENZUELA HONORED
The Blackbirds pitching staff yielded only a single run over 27 innings in four games to top Harvard, Delaware (twice) and host Jacksonville, in the team's first time in the tournament. Freshman pitcher Elena Valenzuela was spectacular with back-to-back complete game shutouts, throwing 14 scoreless innings in her two starts. She struck out eight, and permitted just seven hits and lowered her season ERA to 1.84. Sophomore Victoria Lowe was also impressive with 10.1 innings of shutout ball, including a complete win over Delaware as well.
At the plate, the LIU bats are starting to heat up, as sophomore Ryleigh Bermea hit .500 (6-for-12) with one home run and seven runs batted in. Infielders Alina Castillo and Samantha Garcia each hit .462 for the weekend, with Garcia hitting a three-run home run, her second of her rookie season.
THE OPPONENTS
Bowling Green
2019 Record: 4-4
LIU Record vs. BGSU: 0-0, the Falcons and the Blackbirds have never played
Top Player: Nikki Sorgi, So., IF, .421 batting, five runs scored, seven RBIs
Top Pitcher: Melissa Mullen, Fr., SP, 3-2 record, 3.37 ERA and 37 strikeouts
UCSB
2019 Record: 4-9
LIU Record vs. UCSB: 0-0, the Gauchos and the Blackbirds have never played
Top Player: Sammy Fabian, So., OF, .391 batting, 3 doubles, 8 runs scored
Top Pitcher: Felisha Noriega, Jr., SP, 3-2 record, 3.46 ERA, 30.1 IP, 21 K's
California
2019 Record: 9-7
LIU Record vs. the Bears: 0-5; last game: 2016 (13-1 loss).
Top Player: Lindsay Rood, Sr., IF .439, 16 runs, 51 total bases, seven RBIs
Top Pitcher: Kamalani Dung, Sr., RHP, 5-3, 2.45 ERA, 52 Ks in 48.1 innings
Pacific
2019 Record: 4-9
LIU Record vs. the Tigers: 1-6 all-time; last games: 2006 (teams went 1-1).
Top Player: Brady Kooman, Jr., IF/OF, .306 batting, four doubles, two RBIs
Top Pitcher: Hailey Reed, Jr. SP, 1-4, 3.17 ERA, 35 Ks in 28.2 innings
TOURNAMENT COVERAGE: There will be Live Stats for each game of the tournament, as well as live video for the UCSB matchup only. Links can be found on the LIU Softball schedule page.