LORETTO, Pa. — The LIU softball team is on precipice of earning a showdown with top-seeded St. Francis University to determine the Northeast Conference's representative in the NCAA Tournament.

The Sharks ousted Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-2, in an elimination game on Friday afternoon.

LIU then owned a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning against Mount St. Mary's when that game was suspended due to weather.

If the Sharks hold on when the game resumes Saturday, LIU will earn a spot in the championship round against St. Francis U. The Sharks would need to win games on Saturday and Sunday, while St. Francis U. would need just one victory since it is unbeaten and in the winners bracket.

Against FDU, after enduring two weather delays, LIU broke a 2-all tie with a pair of runs in the seventh and final inning, on RBI singles from Alyssa Polemeni and Kristen Blanchard.

Alyssa O'Donnell limited FDU to two runs on two hits in six innings, while Desiree Smith nailed down the save with a 1-2-3 seventh.

Against Mount St. Mary's, Kiana Cisneros had an RBI double and Ryleigh Bermea had a run-scoring single in the third to stake the Sharks to a 2-0 lead.
 
The game was halted in the top of the fifth with Camryn Lyman batting and the count 2-2. The game will resume Saturday at 10 a.m.