BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The LIU Brooklyn softball team (29-16, 10-2 NEC) will host NEC foes Central Connecticut State on Friday and Bryant on Saturday (1:00 p.m. start both days) to conclude the 2019 conference regular season. Before Friday's doubleheaders, the Blackbirds were the only team to punch their ticket to the four-team playoff which will begin on Thursday. LIU can clinch the top seed and host the championship with one more victory this weekend.

BLACKBIRD BITS

• The Blackbirds earned NEC Player of the Week honors for the third consecutive week, as Alina Castillo eared her second consecutive honor, following Ryleigh Bermea in the middle of April.
• Freshman Camryn Lyman was named NEC Rookie of the Week, it was the standout second baseman's first honor of the year and the Blackbirds' fifth overall, as Samantha Garcia was the recipient the week before and pitcher Elena Valenzuela earned the title three times this season.
• Castillo, who had 10 runs batted in last weekend to get the NEC nod, is currently on a 10-game hitting streak to raise her average to .343. She went 2-for-4 in the Blackbirds 7-5 loss on Wednesday to Rutgers.
• Junior Patricia Griffin currently leads the team with a career-high .349 average. She is one of four Blackbirds to hold a .400 batting clip against NEC opponents after 12 games, with Castillo (.447) leading the way; followed by sophomore Kiana Cisneros (.436) and Lyman (.405).
• The Blackbirds continue to lead the Northeast Conference in earned run average at 3.18 and fielding percentage at .972. On the mound, Valenzuela continues to lead the league with a 2.15 ERA. Sophomore Victoria Lowe has also posted strong numbers in conference play with a 3-2 mark and a 3.00 ERA, while junior Tallie Woodson is 2-0 in 10.1 innings of relief through the first 12 games.
• The Blackbirds are 7-0 at home so far this year, with non-conference wins over Columbia, Hofstra and St. John's and four league wins over Mount and Wagner.

CCSU OUTLOOK  | LIVE STATS | NEC FRONT ROW
Blue Devils' (17-22, 4-10 NEC) freshman Alexa Milius worked her way into the starting lineup and now leads the team in batting at .368. Sophomore Sydney Bolan leads CCSU with 10 home runs and 36 runs batted in to lead the offense. On the mound, Sophomore Ashley Antonazzo (6 wins) and freshman Carley Stoker (7 wins) have split time, with over 20 appearances each.

BRYANT OUTLOOK  | LIVE STATS | NEC FRONT ROW
The Bulldogs (13-30, 8-6 NEC) moved to first place with a sweep at Wagner (6-0, 5-0) last weekend. Junior Gabrielle Ermish leads the Bulldogs at the plate and in the circle with a .342 batting average and a 2.56 earned run average. Of full time hitters, sophomore Morgan Powell leads the team at the plate with a .314 average.

SERIES' HISTORY
CCSU: LIU holds a 39-13 program record over Central Connecticut. Last season, the Blue Devils swept the regular season doubleheader (9-0, 14-5) up in New Britain. But the in the NEC Championship Tournament, the Blackbirds topped CCSU, 7-4, on a Schae Dickson three run bomb, to turn the 4-3 deficit into a win, allowing LIU to advance to the championship round.

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.

UP NEXT
The Blackbirds will wait out the weekend's NEC action to see where the 2019 tournament will be held from Thursday, May 9 to Saturday, May 11 at the yet to be determined top seed. Check back with LIUAthletics for the latest details all weekend.