BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The 2019 LIU Brooklyn softball team will premiere on Friday at the FGCU Kickoff Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. The Blackbirds open with Ball State on Feb. 8 (10 a.m.),  followed by a pair of games against Kent State (Feb. 8 - 12:15 p.m. and Feb. 9 - 10 a.m.), before finishing with a pair against the hosts, Florida Gulf Coast (Feb. 9 - 2:30 p.m. and Feb. 10 - 11:15 a.m.).

TOURNAMENT COVERAGE: There will be Live Stats for each game of the tournament. All links can be found on the Eagles' Softball schedule page.

KICKOFF CLASSIC FIELD: 2019 will be LIU's third consecutive season starting out at FGCU. Last season as the Blackbirds opened with FGCU and Ball State. In addition to the Blackbirds, the five team Kickoff Classic includes the top two teams in the preseason Mid American Conference poll, Ball State and Kent State, Penn State from the Big Ten and the Eagles from the Atlantic Sun Conference. 

LIU OUTLOOK
LIU will be led offensively by a pair of All-NEC outfielders, sophomore Ryleigh Bermea (.327 BA, 7 home 36 RBI) and junior Patricia Griffin, the Blackbirds' leading returning hitter (.343 BA, which was sixth in NEC). On the mound, junior Haley Irvis and sophomore Victoria Lowe, who both were vital on the mound in the NEC Tournament last year will anchor the pitching staff.

THE OPPOSITION
Ball State
2018 Record: 37-19
LIU Record vs the Cardinals: 2-4 all-time, 0-2 last year; last LIU win: 2017 (3-0).
Top Player: Haley Dominique, Jr. LF, .378 batting average, 43 runs scored
Top Pitcher: Aeshia Miles, Jr. RHP, 20-10, 2.00 earned run average

Kent State
2018 Record: 29-23
LIU Record vs the Golden Flash: 1-2 all-time; last game: 2016 (6-3 loss).
Top Player: Bailey Brownfield, Sr., IF, .351 batting, 41 runs batted in
Top Pitcher:  Madi Huck, So. P, 18-9, 2.68 earned run average

Florida Gulf Coast
2018 Record: 39-17
LIU Record vs the Eagles: 2-11 all-time, 0-1 last year; last game: 2/8/18 (9-6 loss).
Top Player: Racquel Fournet, Sr., OF, .361 batting, 33 runs batted in
Top Pitcher: Riley Randolph, Sr., LHP, 18-7, 1.68 earned run average