BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The LIU Brooklyn softball team extended the team's win streak to seven games with a two game sweep at the UCSB Gaucho Classic in Santa Barbara, Calif. last weekend, as the other three days of the event were canceled due to rain. Therefore, the Blackbirds (10-6) win streak, which started on the final day in Orlando on February 17, will be put on the line next on Friday March 8th when LIU heads to the FAU/FIU Parents' Weekend Tournament.
FAU/FIU PARENTS' WEEKEND TOURNAMENT
Hosted by both Florida Atlantic and Florida International, the Blackbirds will play their first three games at FAU in Boca Raton against Florida A&M (Friday, 11:15 a.m.), East Carolina (Friday, 2:45 p.m.) and Illinois State (Saturday, 9:00 a.m.). Then for the final day on Sunday, March 10th, LIU will head to FlU in Miami to play Yale (12:00 p.m.) and the host Panthers (2:15 p.m.) to finish up the East coast portion of the trip.
2-0 IN CALI; BIRDS STREAKING
The Blackbirds pitching staff continued their recent dominance on the mound in their two games at UCSB last weekend with a 1-0 win over Bowling Green State, followed immediately with a 6-1 victory over their host Gauchos. On the team's current seven-game win streak, LIU has outscored opponents 34-3 with with four shutouts.
VALENZUELA REPEATS NEC HONORS
Blackbirds freshman pitcher Elena Valenzuela (5-1) threw a two-hitter in the Blackbirds 1-0 win over Bowling Green, walking four batters and striking out three. It marked the California native's third consecutive complete game shutout and her fourth straight win of the season. For her efforts, she was named both Pitcher of the Week and Rookie of the Week for the second time by the Northeast Conference office on Tuesday.
LOWE WINS IN HOME STATE
Another native Californian, sophomore pitcher Victoria Lowe (3-3) picked up a 6-1 win, with her third consecutive win and second straight complete game. Lowe gave up six hits and struck out one batter in her seven innings of work.
YOUNG BIRDS LEAD OFFENSE
Three sophomores and a freshman lead LIU at the plate four weeks into the season, as third baseman Alina Castillo leads in batting (.326) with Kiana Cisneros leading in runs (10) and Ryleigh Bermea leading in RBIs (12). Freshman Samantha Garcia has two home runs to top the team in her first season.
THE OPPONENTS
Florida A&M
2019 Record: 4-14
LIU Record vs. the Rattlers: 5-1 all-time; Last meeting, 2018 (4-2 win)
Top Player: Alexis Day, Sr., OF, .319 batting, 8 runs scored, 10 RBIs
Top Pitcher: Kyaira Brown, Jr., RHP, 3-5 record, 2.89 ERA, 25 strikeouts
East Carolina
2019 Record: 11-6
LIU Record vs. the Pirates: 1-2 all-time; Last meeting, 2010 (2-1 win)
Top Player: Tyler King, So., OF, .415 batting, 14 runs scored, 9 RBIs, 8 steals
Top Pitcher: Erin Poepping, So., RHP, 7-3 record, 1.58 ERA, 54 strikeouts
Illinois State
2019 Record: 5-15
LIU Record vs. the Redbirds: 2-4 all-time; Last meeting, 2017 (4-2 win)
Top Player: Shannon Felde, Sr., RHP/UT, .345 batting, four doubles, 12 runs scored
Top Pitcher: Morgan Day, So., RHP, 2-5 record, 3.22 ERA, 36 striekouts
Yale
2019 Record: 2-4
LIU Record vs. the Bulldogs: 1-1 all-time; Last meeting, 1998 (3-5 loss)
Top Player: Carlin Hagmaier, Sr., 1B/OF, .450 batting, 4 runs scored, 5 RBIs
Top Pitcher: Terra Jerbpak, Sr., P/UT, 1-1 record, 0.95 ERA, 11 strikeouts
Florida International
2019 Record: 14-5 (prior to Thursday night's game)
LIU Record vs. the Panthers: 1-8 all-time; Last meeting, 2017 (2-4 loss)
Top Player: Jackie Schoff, Sr., OF, .410 batting, 3 triples, 15 runs, 6 steals
Top Pitcher: Kendra Dunford, So., SP, 6-1 record, 2.31 ERA, 29 strikeouts
TOURNAMENT COVERAGE
There will be Live Stats for each game of the tournament, as well as live video for the FIU matchup only. Links can be found on the LIU Softball schedule page. FAU also has a tournament page for to the event here.
FINAL WEEK IN FLORIDA NEXT
The Blackbirds will finish up their Spring break with their fifth and final tournament in Florida, as they head back to the Gulf coast to play in the USF Tournament in Clearwater, hosted by South Florida from March 15-17.