FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The LIU softball team split a doubleheader with Sacred Heart on Friday, putting into more clarity the upcoming NEC Tournament.

With Saint Francis U sweeping a doubleheader against Merrimack, it will host the conference tourney in Loretto, Pa., as the top seed — and again face Merrimack, the No. 4 seed, in the tourney's May 11 double-elimination opener.

LIU will play Central Connecticut State in the No. 2 versus No. 3 game that day, although the seeding will be based on results from the final conference game. Both teams enter the finale with 13-7 NEC records, and LIU owns the tiebreaker by virtue of winning the April 2-3 series.

On Friday against Sacred Heart, LIU dropped the opening game, 9-1, in six innings to fall a game behind Saint Francis U for first place in the conference. The Sharks then blanked the Pioneers, 6-0, in Game 2 behind a four-hit shutout from Alyssa O'Donnell and a three-RBI game from Maya Avila.