TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University baseball team heads out west to open the 2015 season as it takes on USC in a three-game series at Dedeaux Field.  The series will get underway with a 9 p.m. (EST) first pitch on Friday and Saturday, and concludes with a 4 p.m. (EST) start on Sunday.
 
The Tigers enter the season as a bit of an unknown as they look to replace six starters who led the team in five major offensive categories last season.
 
"There are very few guys that we will be counting on that have enough of a body of work that you know what you are going to get," said head coach Mike Gottlieb.  "There are only two guys in our starting lineup that have started more than one year in college."
 
Preseason Honorable-Mention All-CAA selection Peter Bowles will move to shortstop this season after earning second-team all-conference honors as a first baseman a season ago.  Bowles hit .304 with a team-high 55 hits.  He added 10 doubles and 35 RBIs.
 
Sophomore left hander Bruce Zimmermann will get the start on the mound in the opener.  Last season, Zimmermann went 5-5 with a 5.00 ERA in 11 starts.  The rest of the weekend rotation has not been determined.
 
"We are going about things a little different this weekend," said Gottlieb.  "We are going to have a Friday starter and everybody else is available.  I will know after Friday who is going to start Saturday.  We are going to try and win the game we are playing."
 
The Tigers will take 10 days off before opening their home schedule Feb. 25 against UMBC.  First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m. at Schuerholz Park.