May 8, 2008

Brooklyn, NY - The Wagner softball team (27-20, 10-8 NEC) will open up its postseason play tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. when they take on the top-seeded Blackbirds of Long Island University (31-15, 17-1 NEC) which will be a much anticipated clashing of styles in the potent Wagner bats and the dominant LIU pitching arms in the opening round at Long Island University.

The 2008 Northeast Conference Softball Tournament will begin this morning, May 10, at LIU Field on the campus of Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY. The double-elimination tournament will also feature the match-up between #2 Robert Morris and #3 Saint Francis (PA) at 12:30 pm. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday, May 11. The winner of the NEC Championship will receive the league's automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Wagner (27-20, 10-8 NEC), under the direction of Glen Payne, enters the postseason with hopes of capturing its first ever NEC title. The Seahawks feature one of the nation's most potent offenses led by NEC Player of the Year candidate Andrea Lazzari (Reno, NV/Wooster). The junior second baseman currently ranks sixth nationally in RBIs per game (1.15). Lazzari hit .422 on the year with a .721 slugging percentage, .446 on-base percentage and a league-high ten home runs and 54 RBIs. The Reno, Nevada native hit .517 with a .914 slugging percentage and a .532 on-base percentage against conference opponents. Senior shortstop Katie Stevens (Reno, NV/Wooster) and catcher Victoria Batistelli (Huntington Beach, CA/Huntington Beach) each played a crucial role in an offense that ranked first in the NEC in batting average (.323), slugging percentage (.488), on-base percentage (.390), runs scored (260) and RBIs (235). Stevens ranked ninth nationally in runs scored per game (1.02), while hitting .442 in conference play with a .673 slugging percentage and a .532 on-base percentage. Batistelli hit .339 on the season and currently ranks second in the NEC in RBIs with 40. Sophomores Kate Eshelman (Reno, NV/McQueen) and Danielle Wagoner (Temecula, CA/Temecula Valley) head up the Seahawks' pitching staff, combining for eighteen wins and five saves.

Under the tutelage of head coach Roy Kortman, Long Island (31-15, 17-1 NEC) captured its third straight regular season title. The Blackbirds, who enter the tournament having won 16 of their last 17, feature the league's most dynamic pitching duo in two-time NEC pitcher of the year Jenny Giles (Melbourne, FL/Eau Gallie) and sophomore Blaire Porter (Redmond, WA/Redmond). The pair anchored an LIU staff which finished the season ranked first in the NEC and 13th nationally in ERA (1.27). The Blackbirds' pitching corps also lead the conference in opponent batting average (.198) and strikeouts (273).

*Wagner is making its fifth straight tournament appearance. The Seahawks fell to top-seeded LIU 10-0 (6) in last season's championship.

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