ROCK HILL, S.C. – When Lisa Costello arrived at Towson University in 1994 as an assistant softball coach, she didn't expect to still be on campus nearly two decades later. Through her persistence, hard-work, fun-loving personality, Costello has evolved into a rock of excellence and a treasure during a memorable career.
 
"I was going to stay for a few years, get some experience and move on to a bigger program but throughout time, Towson became that program that I would have moved on to," Costello said earlier this week before the Tigers departed for South Carolina. "Watching the way the department has evolved into getting into better conferences and playing better competition, it became what I would have looked for."
 
Costello is comfortable, having fun, enjoying life and more importantly, continuing to make a major difference in the lives of her softball players. It's only natural that the spotlight reluctantly finds somebody who shuns attention and credit. Eventually wins and numbers will add up.
 
She earned her 600th career coaching victory Saturday morning after Towson defeated Rider, 2-1, behind Ambar Hickman's complete-game gem in the Winthrop/Adidas Invitational Tournament. The milestone became official at 11:58 a.m. Eastern Standard Time after shortstop Bailey Boyd squeezed the final out in her glove.
 
Honored as the CAA Coach of the Year in 2005, Costello has led the Tigers to a second place finish in the CAA four times in the 10 years that the CAA has held a softball championship. She also guided Towson to 13 30-win seasons during her career. With the Tigers off to an 8-3 start this season, the 30-win seasons could increase.
 
 "They're just numbers," Costello said. "I guess it just means that the bigger the number, the older you are. I plan to coach until I can't anymore. I love it here and haven't worked a day in my life. As long we have a chance to work with great kids, it's not work."
 
The only work Costello has done in recent years has involved smiling, providing encouragement, and beaming with pride when one of her former players excels in life.
 
"I believe alumni day crystalizes it for me," Costello said. "Especially when you see kids that never played together during their college careers come together and they are great friends as if they have played together their entire lives. Watching that interaction is fantastic and it creates a great family atmosphere for everybody."
 
How It Happened

• Daria Edwards smacked a RBI triple to score Olivia Yarbrough in the fourth inning for Towson's first run.
• Holiday Cahill executed a perfect suicide squeeze to double Towson's advantage as Edwards crossed the plate for a 2-0 lead.
• Hickman allowed five hits and struck out two batters.
• Courtney Johnson and Caroline Reid also had hits for Towson in the victory.
• Rider scored its run in the top of the sixth inning on Toni Nino's groundout.
• The Broncs had two runners on in the seventh inning with one out before Hickman pitched out of trouble.
• Monica Clark had two of Rider's five hits.

 
Inside the Boxscore

• Costello's first coaching victory was a 4-1 win over Liberty on March 20, 1996.
• Towson's 8-3 start is its best since the 2010 team opened with a 12-3 record.
• The Tigers have won two consecutive one-run games to improve to 2-2 on the season.
• Yarbrough extended her hitting streak to five games with a leadoff single in the fourth inning.
• Hickman was efficient with her outs. She had 10 flyouts and induced nine groundball outs.
• Edwards has reached base in every game this season for Towson.
• Cahill drove in her team-leading 14th run of the season.

 
On Deck

• Towson plays Canisius at 1 p.m.