TOWSON, Md. – It's not complicated. The Towson University softball team has a simple formula for why it's off to one of its best starts in program history at 6-2 overall.
 
"We're all pieces to a puzzle," sophomore Daria Edwards said following Wednesday's practice in the Towson Center. "Everything has come together from defense to pitching to hitting. We are having fun at the same time. When one person is down, the whole team picks them up so it's all a team effort and that's helped us been successful early."
 
The Tigers will look to keep the good times rolling when they compete in the Winthrop/Adidas Invitational this weekend in Rock Hill. This will be the Tigers' third consecutive trip down Interstate 95 and into South Carolina although this journey will be a little more scenic as they head to a different part of the state.
 
Towson will meet Wagner and host Winthrop on Friday. It will play Rider and Canisius on Saturday and conclude the tournament with a game against Appalachian State on Sunday afternoon.
 
"I am so excited about (the start to the season)," sophomore Shelby Stracher said. "It's awesome and I had no idea (this was our best start since 1994). I am proud of us because all the hard work that everybody has put in in the offseason has shown. Everybody is dedicated and it's made a big difference. We love to joke and hang out on and off the field. It's such a good environment."
 
The Tigers have also created several memorable moments during their opening two weeks in posting 3-1 records in the Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina Tournaments. They have had three games in which they have scored double digit runs, got a pair of walk-off home runs from Stacher and Brook Miko, had dominant plate performances from Holiday Cahill, who has a trio of four-RBI efforts along with a multi-homer game from Edwards.
 
Towson is 18-for-18 in stolen bases through the first eight games. Edwards and Stracher lead the Tigers with .500 batting averages each. Cahill is batting .417 and Nicole Stockinger, who was named CAA Rookie of the Week on Feb. 15, has a cool .400 average. The pitching of Blakely Thrower, Megan Dejter and Ambar Hickman has been solid.
 
"I like the way we are playing as a team," Towson head coach Lisa Costello said. "We're not perfect in any area and we have a lot of room for improvement in all phases of the game, but we're putting it together as a team, which is really nice to see."
 
Here's a brief look at the teams Towson will face this weekend:
 
WAGNER (0-0): Members of the Northeast Conference, this will be Wagner's season-opener. The Seahawks were picked ninth in the NEC preseason coaches' poll. Wagner won nine games in 2015.
 
WINTHROP (3-7): Both of the Eagles' wins have come at home. Freshman Blake Wallert is leading the team in batting with a .292 average and is tied for the team lead in runs scored with five. Redshirt junior Leah Young lead the team in RBI with seven. Senior Dallas King and freshman Kiley Majette have made eight starts combined with King leading the team with five. King is 2-3 with a 6.14 ERA and 25 strikeouts to eight walks. She had a career-high 12 strikeouts in six innings against Humber College. Majette is 1-3 with a 7.29 ERA and 14 strikeouts to 11 walks in 24 innings (most IP on team).
 
CANISIUS (1-6): Sophomore Moriah Harris has been named the MAAC Player of the Week after she hit .500 (6-for-12) with a double, a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in four games last week as the Golden Griffins opened the 2016 campaign at the Titan Classic in Fullerton, Calif. For the season, Harris (.467) and Meghan Cuda (.333) are the Griffins top hitters. Harris leads Canisius with two homers and four RBIs.
 
RIDER (0-0): Members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, this will be Rider's season-opening tournament. The Broncs were picked ninth in the MAAC preseason coaches' poll. The Broncs top player is senior Dana Sensi, who was voted to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team. Last season as a junior, Sensi led Rider, which won 12 games last season, in every offensive category including batting average (.380), runs scored (33), hits (54), doubles (12), triples (1), home runs (13) RBIs (38) and walks (15).
 
APPALACHIAN STATE (0-10): This will be the second consecutive weekend that the Tigers will face the Mountaineers. Towson defeated Appalachian State, 11-1, in the Coastal Carolina Kickin' Chicken Classic. The early leaders for the Mountaineers, members of the Sun Belt Conference, Natalie Orcutt (.409), Jenny Dodd (.345) and Megan Walker (.333). Dodd has two homers and nine RBIs to lead Appalachian State.
 
UP NEXT: Towson plays its home opener Tuesday when it hosts UMBC at 2 p.m. It will be the beginning of a seven-game homestand.