TOWSON, Md. – After a strong opening to its season and brief pit-stop in Maryland, the Towson University softball returns to South Carolina. This time, the Tigers will compete in Coastal Carolina University's Kickin' Chicken Classic against a strong field of competitors.
 
The Tigers won three of four games at last weekend's Charleston Southern Tournament. They got strong performances from several players as each made a meaningful contribution. Towson enjoyed a walk-off victory against Georgetown in its season opener thanks to Shelby Stracher's heroics. Then, on Saturday, the Tigers offense pounded out 13 hits in each of its games against IPFW and Georgetown.
 
Towson will look to keep its sizzling bats going when it meets Cleveland State (9:30 a.m.) and Seton Hall (11:45 a.m.) on Friday, Feb. 19 and Appalachian State (9:30 a.m.) and Coastal Carolina (2 p.m.) on Saturday, Feb. 20. There will only be live stats of the Coastal Carolina-Towson contest.
 
STOCKINGER SUPERB: In her first collegiate action over the weekend at the Charleston Southern Tournament, freshman Nicole Stockinger earned CAA Rookie Of The Week honors. She contributed offensively with a .375 average, four runs and three RBI as TU went 3-1. The Maryland native added a pair of doubles in back-to-back wins over Georgetown and then capped the weekend by going 3-for-5 with a run and two RBI in a victory over IPFW.
 
CROOKED NUMBERS: Towson enjoyed nine multi-run innings last weekend at the Charleston Southern Tournament. The Tigers scored 12 of their 30 runs in the fifth inning.
 
THIEVES IN THE NIGHT: Towson was perfect in stolen bases in its opening tournament going 8-for-8. Kendyl Scott (three), Daria Edwards (two) and Olivia Yarbrough (two) have been the chief tormenters on the basepaths as they all have multiple steals. The other stolen base belongs to Bailey Boyd.
 
OUTSTANDING OLIVIA: Yarbrough needs 29 runs to become the program's all-time leader in that category. She has scored 112 runs. With 166 career hits, Yarbrough also has an opportunity to become the sixth player in program history to finish with 200 career hits. She hit .500 last weekend at Charleston Southern. Yarbrough had a hit in each of the Tigers' first four games.


AMONG THE CAA LEADERS: After one weekend, Towson leads the CAA in fielding percentage (.982), hits (41), total bases (62) and on-base percentage (.479). Towson is also tied with Hofstra for the CAA lead with three home runs. The Tigers are second in batting average (.357), slugging percentage (.579), runs (30), RBI's (26), walks (24) and third in earned run average (.467).
 
HOLIDAY CHEER: Junior Holiday Cahill had quite the afternoon against IPFW and Georgetown. She was a one-woman wrecking crew. Cahill drove in a total of eight runs (four in each game) and blasted the ball all over the field to the tune of a .750 batting average. She made the most of her six combined hits as Cahill had a pair of doubles and a home run.  
 
Here's a look at the teams in this weekend's Kickin' Chicken Classic with their current 2016 records in parenthesis:
 
CLEVELAND STATE (3-1): Cleveland State was picked to finish fifth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll. CSU returns six starters and 13 letterwinners from last year's team that finished 23-29. Included in the list of returnees is senior Erica McNew, a three-time first team All-Horizon League selection, who hit .429 with 12 home runs and 37 RBI last year. The Vikings were led last weekend by McNew, who had two home runs and six runs. Katelind Phillips had seven hits for Cleveland State, which defeated Niagara, Bowling Green and Robert Morris after an opening setback to Morehead State.
 
SETON HALL (4-1): Members of the Big East Conference, the Pirates went 4-1 last weekend at the Mardi Gras Classic. Chrisa Head, Alex Rabbetts, Madison Strunk and Alexis Walkden were named to the Mardi Gras Classic All-Tournament Team and Strunk was named the Co-Most Outstanding Player. Strunk compiled a 1.83 earned run average over four appearances last weekend. She also tossed a pair of complete games, including a shutout. Walkden, Head and Rabbetts all hit over .400 during the opening weekend of the season.
 
APPALACHIAN STATE (0-5): Two of the five Mountaineers losses were to fourth-ranked Auburn. Megan Walker (.429), Natalie Orcutt (.333) and Jenny Dodd (.308) were the offensive leaders last weekend for the Mountaineers. Dodd has six RBIs to lead App State, who are members of the Sun Belt Conference. The Mountaineers enter the weekend with a 12.88 team earned run average.
 
COASTAL CAROLINA (0-5): Members of the Big South Conference, the Chanticleers were led by freshman pitcher Ashley Guillette, who made a statement in her first start as she tied the single game strikeout record with 13. Taty Forbes led Coastal Carolina with a .389 batting average. Kelsey Dominick and Kailey Mellen also hit over .300 during last weekend's opening tournament at Jacksonville. They have a .234 team batting average. The Chanticleers were picked second in the Big South preseason poll. Three of its losses were to N.C. State and Kansas.
 
UP NEXT: Towson travels back to South Carolina next weekend when it competes in the Winthrop Tournament. The Tigers will meet Wagner, Winthrop, Rider, Caninius and Appalachian State.