BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The LIU Brooklyn softball team (21-13, 3-1 NEC) is set to host Northeast Conference action this weekend at LIU Field with pair of doubleheaders. First the Blackbirds will celebrate Alumni Day when they face Mount St. Mary's on Saturday (1:00 p.m.), followed by a battle against first place Bryant (5-1 NEC) on Sunday (3:00 p.m.).

3-1 START IN NEC PLAY
The Blackbirds started off last weekend with a doubleheader sweep at NEC preseason favorite Sacred Heart, winning 5-0 and 2-1 on Saturday. Then on Sunday, LIU split a road doubleheader at Fairleigh Dickinson, winning 3-1 and falling 2-1 in the nightcap. LIU pitching was dominant in all four games, giving up only four runs in the four games. Freshman Elena Valenzuela (11-3) had two complete game wins and 15 innings without yielding an earned run. Sophomore Victoria Lowe (6-7) gave up only two earned runs in 11 innings this weekend, with seven strikeouts. She had five K's in her complete game win on Saturday in game two.

Offensively, junior Patricia Griffin and sophomore Kiana Cisneros each had three multi-hit games over the weekend to help spark the offense. The top highlight of the weekend came in the second game against the Pioneers: with the game tied at 1-1, junior Katie Hinkle pulled a triple down the right field line to lead off the seventh inning, and two batters later, freshman Camryn Lyman blasted the ball back through the box to bring in the winning run for LIU.

BLACKBIRD BITS

• Pitcher Elena Valenzuela was named Co-Pitcher and Rookie of the Week by the Northeast Conference on Tuesday, it was her fourth such honor for both awards this season.
• The freshman is currently ranked 11th in the NCAA (first in the NEC) in shutouts on the year with six, which includes the 5-0 win over SHU.
• She also leads the NEC in wins (11), earned run average (1.93), complete games (10) and saves.
• Sophomore shortstop Kiana Cisneros returned after missing three games, and hit 8-for-16 (.500) in five games, with a double and three RBIs. She has now has a hit in 15 of her last 16 games played.  
• The Blackbirds lead the Northeast Conference in fielding percentage this year at .972, which is also 26th overall in the NCAA.
• LIU is 3-0 at home to start the year, with non-conference wins over Columbia, Hofstra and St. John's.

MOUNT OUTLOOK  | LIVE STATS | NEC FRONT ROW
Mountaineers' (17-20, 4-4 NEC) sophomore Amanda Berkley was named NEC Co-Pitcher of the Week with Valenzuela this past week, as she went 3-0 with a 1.56 ERA in three starts. Berkley is 8-10 with a 3.46 ERA on the season. Offensively, junior Shelbee Holcomb paces Mount with a .442 batting average, senior Morgan Alisauckas leads the team with 32 runs batted in (37 games) and leadoff hitter Kaylee Stoner is now batting .322 after helping Mount go 3-1 in their league games last week, batting .500 with a double, triple and four runs scored.

BRYANT OUTLOOK  | LIVE STATS | NEC FRONT ROW
The Bulldogs (9-25, 5-1 NEC) moved to first place with a sweep at Wagner (6-0, 5-0) last weekend. Junior Gabrielle Ermish leads the Bulldogs in the circle with a 4-8 record and a 2.94 earned run average. Sophomore Morgan Powell leads the team at the plate with a .353 average and ten stolen bases, while Kayleigh Goulart leads with 14 runs batted in.

SERIES' HISTORY
MOUNT: LIU holds a 46-13 record over MSM, in a rivalry that predates the Northeast Conference. Despite the advantage, the two schools have split the last two regular season doubleheaders, including 2017, the last time the Mountaineers played in Brooklyn.
BRYANT: The Blackbirds hold a slim 11-9 advantage over the Bulldogs, with the teams splitting their two games last season. The home team swept the last doubleheader at LIU Field back in 2017.

MIDWEEK MATCHUP UP NEXT
The Blackbirds will head out to Stony Brook, Long Island for a midweek matchup on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., before coming back to the Birdcage for two more NEC doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.