TOWSON, Md. – Off to one of its best starts in program history, the Towson University softball team takes its 14-4 record across the country to northern California where it compete in a three-day tournament hosted by Saint Mary's College.
The trip to California will also be a homecoming for several Tigers, who have nine student-athletes who hail from The Golden State. Add in senior
Olivia Yarbrough, who is from Oregon and the Tigers have 10 student-athletes from the west coast on their 2016 roster.
| 2016 Saint Mary's Tournament Schedule |
| vs. Manhattan | 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT | LIVE STATS |
| at St. Mary's | 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT | LIVE STATS |
| vs. Manhattan | 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT | |
| vs. Portland State | 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT | |
| vs. Portland State | 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT | |
CALIFORNIA CONNECTION: Towson's California residents are
Caitie Barber (Tustin),
Ambar Hickman (La Mirada),
Courtney Johnson (Roseville),
Holiday Cahill (Cypress),
Olivia Baltazar (Dana Point),
Brook Miko (Ladera Ranch),
Kendyl Scott (La Quinta),
Cassidy Meyer (Orange) and
Kaylen Minnatee (Elk Grove).
LAST TIME OUT FOR TOWSON: Towson swept a doubleheader from Virginia, 10-2 and 6-3 on Tuesday afternoon. The Tigers slugged six home runs, including a season best five in the opening game.
Shelby Stracher had two homers in the first game while
Bailey Boyd hit a home run in each game for Towson.
Megan Dejter didn't allow an earned run in earning the complete game victory. In capturing her sixth victory of the season, Hickman struck out a season best six batters in the nightcap.
HISTORICAL BEGINNINGS: The Tigers' top records after 18 games in program history occurred in 1987 (15-3), 1986 (14-4), 1994 (13-5), 2010 (13-5), 1989 (12-6) and 1995 (12-6). Towson's best start was in 1987 when it started its season with an 18-3 record.
BRINGING RUNNERS HOME: The Tigers are hitting .330 as a team with runners in scoring position. Towson has seven players hitting over .300 with runners in scoring position led by Stracher's .500 average.
EXTRA, EXTRA: Fifty-nine of Towson's 126 hits this season (46.8 percent) have gone for extra bases. The Tigers have 33 doubles, 24 home runs and two triples. Towson has at least one extra base hit in every game this season. Stracher and Edwards lead Towson with 10 extra base hits each.
OUTSTANDING OLIVIA: Yarbrough is 10-for-10 in stolen bases this season. She has upped her career total to 34, which is eighth all-time in program history. With three more stolen bases, she'll pass Sammi DiPompo (35), Michelle Cappe (35) and Jeanna Bosch (36) and move into fifth place on the all-time stolen base list. She is also 23 hits from becoming the sixth player in school history to have at least 200 career hits. Yarbrough is currently 15th all-time in hits with 177.
Here's a look at the teams Towson will be facing this weekend:
MANHATTAN (7-3): Freshman second baseman
Lauren Pitney of the Manhattan College softball team has been selected as Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Rookie of the Week. She hit a combined .412 with two home runs and 11 RBIs in five Manhattan victories last week.
Stephanie Kristo was also named MAAC Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 23. The Jaspers have won five consecutive contests, including winning three games last weekend at the Hampton Invitational. Jenn Vazquez is Manhattan's top hitter (.438 batting average). Briana Matazinsky leads Manhattan with three homers and Pitney has a team-best 13 RBIs.
PORTLAND STATE (5-13): Portland State went 1-2 in a rain shortened San Diego Classic. The Vikings opened the week with a tough 1-0 loss to Pitt. The Vikings came back with a 3-1 win over San Diego behind a complete game from LHP
Meagan Hendrix. The Vikings then fell to Illinois-Chicago, 5-4, in walk-off fashion. The Vikings' top hitter is Kortney Craker, who leads the Vikings with a .408 average, 20 hits and 11 RBIs. Shae Nelson and Brianna Celaya have 17 hits each for Portland State. Alyssa Burk has a 2.37 earned run average.
SAINT MARY'S (6-14): The Gaels are coming off of wins over Utah State (13-6) and UNLV (4-3) in Las Vegas on Sunday. In the win over SUU, the Gaels pounded out 14 hits and scored 13 times. Bailey Lotz led the way going 3-for-3 with a single, double and home run, her first collegiate home run, adding four RBI. Katelyn Mamizuka, Andrea Hazel (double, home run), Shannon Low and Dylan Linton all added multi-hit games. They are 1-4 at home this season. The Gaels have been paced by Shannon Low's .400 average. A .313 hitter, Lollie Fitzpatrick leads the Gaels with 12 RBIs. Saint Mary's is hitting .236 as a team this season.
ON DECK: Towson concludes its West Coast trip against Pacific on Tuesday evening at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.
