TOWSON, Md. – After spending plenty of quality time bashing softballs in South Carolina, Towson University gets an opportunity to chill in familiar surroundings as it begins a seven-game home stand Tuesday afternoon against crosstown foe UMBC. First-pitch is 2 p.m. at the Tiger Softball Complex.
At 10-3 overall, Towson is off to its best start since the 2010 team started with a 12-3 record.
AGAINST UMBC: The Tigers are 30-20 all-time against UMBC. They swept a doubleheader from the Retrievers last season, 5-3 and 7-0. Trailing 3-0 in the opening game, Towson scored five runs with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to rally for the victory.
Megan Dejter pitched her second career shutout, giving up three hits for the win. She tallied three strikeouts and did not allow a walk in seven innings.
DIGGIN' THE LONG BALL: Towson leads the CAA with 15 home runs. The Tigers have hit at least one homer in 10 games this season. They slugged a season best three against Appalachian State on Sunday afternoon (
Daria Edwards,
Shelby Stracher and
Courtney Johnson). Seven different Tigers have hit at least one home run this season. Edwards and Stracher are tied for the team and CAA lead in homers with four each.
OFFENSIVE MACHINE: The Tigers lead the CAA in batting average (.328), slugging percentage (.519) and hits (118). Towson has scored double digit runs four times. In addition, it has five games in which it has collected 10 or more hits. Towson is second in the CAA in runs scored with 77. Stracher (.500, second) and Edwards (.447, fifth) are two of the top five hitters in the conference. They are also tied for the CAA lead in runs scored with 12 each.
CAN'T BE CAUGHT: Towson is 24-for-24 in stolen bases this season, which is second in the conference behind Elon.
Kendyl Scott leads the CAA with seven stolen bases this season. Eight different players have stolen at least one base this season for the Tigers.
CONSISTENT YARBROUGH: Senior
Olivia Yarbrough has been her usual terrific self this season. She is currently enjoying a seven-game hitting streak, which is a team best now. She needs 24 runs to become the all-time leader in that category. With 173 hits, Yarbrough is closing in on becoming the sixth Towson softball player to reach 200.
WINTHROP WEEKEND RECAP: Towson finished the weekend by winning its final three games to go 4-1 in the tournament. Three of Towson's wins were by one-run (Wagner 3-2, Rider 2-1 and Canisius 6-5). Stracher led the Tigers over the weekend with a .500 average. She had eight hits, hit two homers and drove in six runs. Edwards hit .357 and had five hits along with four RBIs.
Courtney Johnson was a beast with three extra base hits and a .417 batting average. Johnson slammed a three-run homer against Appalachian State. As a team, the Tigers compiled a .309 average. Pitcher
Ambar Hickman was 2-0 with a 2.44 earned run average in 14.1 innings pitched.
A LOOK AT UMBC: Members of the America East Conference, UMBC is off to a 4-9 start. Junior pitchers
Jessica Holte and
Kelly Lane each pitched a shutout, while sophomore first baseman
Carly Lesko, drove in five runs, including a two-run homer, as UMBC defeated Lafayette, 11-0 and UMES, 4-0. Senior shortstop
Bridget O'Malley finished the weekend 8-for-11 with a double, four RBI and two runs scored. Freshman Morgan Peyou leads UMBC with a .424 average. Sophomore Carly Leskp paces the Retrievers with four home runs and 15 RBIs.
UP NEXT: Towson will host the Tiger Clash on Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6. The Tigers will meet Morgan State at 9:30 a.m. and Bowling Green at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. They will play Bowling Green at 9:30 a.m. and Morgan State at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.
