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HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University softball team will host LIU Brooklyn on Friday, March 29 for its 2013 home opener.  The Northeast Conference doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. at FDU Softball Field.

The Knights are an even 10-10 on the year, with a 2-2 NEC record, after splitting doubleheaders at Monmouth and Mount St. Mary's last weekend. The team has scored 62 runs on the season, while allowing opponents to cross the plate on 53 occasions. 

Individually, FDU is led by freshman Courtney Slye (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano Valley High School)'s .327 batting average. Slye has knocked in seven runs this season and paces the squad with four home runs. Freshman Madelaine Wilen (Bakerfield, Calif./Ridgeview High School) was named the NEC Rookie of the Week after hitting successfully in four games last weekend, including two doubles and two RBI in the Knights' 7-4 win over Monmouth. Wilen is averaging .295 at the plate with seven RBI on the season.

In the circle, freshman Loren Stavrou (Long Beach, Calif./Wilson Classical High School) sets the standard for the Knights with a 3-0 record and a 1.55 ERA. Stavrou pitched 10 innings last weekend and allowed only two earned runs.

As a team, the Knights are hitting .253, while holding opponents to a .226 average. The pitching staff has held foes to a 1.99 ERA this season and has struck out 80 batters through 134 innings.

The Blackbirds of LIU are 4-28 on the year after falling to Stony Brook, 8-7, in extra innings on Wednesday. The 2012 Northeast Conference champions were selected to finish second in this year's preseason coaches' poll with five first-place votes.

The team returns eight players from the conference championship team, including All-Conference selections Nichole Toven and Karina Cervantes. Junior Lauren Morizi paces the Blackbirds with an average of .359 through 32 games, while senior first baseman Emily Kakuska maintains a .351 batting average in 27 games.

Sophomore Nicole Archer leads the team in the circle with two of LIU's four wins this season. She maintains an ERA of 4.91 with 74 hits allowed in 57 innings.

Collectively, the Blackbirds hit .234 at the plate, while allowing 5.94 earned runs per game.

Following the Knights bout with LIU, FDU will travel to Columbia for a doubleheader with the Lions on Tuesday, April 2 at 3 p.m.