LOS ANGELES, Calif., -- The Loyola Marymount softball team has accepted a bid to participate in the 2019 National invitational Softball Championship. 
 
This is the second year in a row the Lions have made a post season appearance. Last year, the team took home the 2018 NISC title, after going 3-1 at regionals, and then beating UT Arlington and UC Riverside twice in the championships. 
 
LMU heads to the NISC coming off of a 35-18 regular season, while going 11-4 in conference play. The Lions finished second in the West Coast Conference and had conference sweeps over San Diego and Saint Mary's. 
 
The NISC will take place at four different regional sites, including Reno, Nev., where the Lions will kick off the tournament. All of the regionals are double elimination, while the four regional winners will advance to the NISC Championship round that will take place in Fort Collins, Colo. on May 24-26.
 
LMU heads to Reno with a team earned run average of 2.95, while Hannah Bandimere leads the team with a 2.51 and Samantha Manti leads with a 2.97. 
 
Molly Grumbo and Andrea Gonzalez lead the team in batting average, with .342 and .325 respectively. Riley Ehlen leads the team in homeruns with seven, while Delanie Wisz and Gonzalez lead with runs batted in with 27. 
 
The Lions will play their first game on Thursday against Nevada at 4:00 p.m. Fresno State and UC Riverside will also be playing in the regional at Nevada.