TOWSON, Md. – The red-hot Towson University softball team takes a quick jaunt down Interstate 95 south for a mid-week non-conference contest against Georgetown Wednesday afternoon. First pitch from Guy Mason Field is at 4 p.m.
The Tigers (26-10 overall) meet the Hoyas (7-26) for the third time this season. Towson defeated the Hoyas twice, 3-1 and 11-4, in the Charleston Southern Tournament during the opening weekend of the season back in February. The Tigers lead the all-time series over Georgetown, 7-5, as it has won four consecutive meetings. In their last visit to the nation's capital, Towson was defeated 10-1 on April 24, 2014.
LONG BALL PARADE: During its doubleheader sweep of Drexel on Sunday, Towson slammed seven home runs.
Shelby Stracher and
Brook Miko led the way with two each.
Caroline Reid,
Holiday Cahill and
Nicole Stockinger all went yard for the Tigers, who have hit 48 home runs this season, one shy of tying last year's mark of 49, which was a single-season program record.
HOT HOLIDAY: Cahill enjoyed a memorable week in which she hit .583 over the Tigers' four games. She had three multi-hit games. Cahill also hit a two-run homer against Drexel. She is hitting .327 with six homers and 33 runs batted in. Her 33 RBIs are second in the CAA behind her teammate Stracher. Fifteen of her 33 hits have gone for extra bases this season. Cahill is third all-time in Towson history with 23 career home runs.
MIKO'S MOMENT: Miko finished off a scorching week by hitting a grand slam against Drexel. Miko drove in 11 runs in four games last week. She homered in each game of the Drexel doubleheader. Miko started the week by driving in a career-best five runs in a 10-2 win against Norfolk State.
BEASTS OF THE BIG EAST: Towson is 3-0 against the Big East this season. In addition to its two wins against Georgetown, the Tigers also beat Seton Hall, 4-2, on Feb. 19 in the Coastal Carolina Kickin Chicken Classic. Towson hosts Villanova in a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 26 at 2:30 p.m.
FLEXING ITS OFFENSIVE MUSCLES: Towson continues to lead the CAA in numerous offensive categories. Towson leads the CAA in slugging percentage (.536), runs scored (230), RBIs (209), home runs (48) and total bases (509). The Tigers are tied with Delaware with the league's best batting average at .308. Towson is second in on-base percentage (.387), doubles (59), triples (seven), sacrifice bunts (28) and stolen bases (62). The Tigers also have 292 hits, which is fourth in the conference.
SENSATIONAL STRACHER: Stracher, who was named the
College Sports Madness CAA Player of the Week, is nationally-ranked among the top 20 in seven offensive categories. She is sixth in RBIs per game (1.33) and sacrifice flies (four). Stracher is also eighth in RBIs (48) and slugging percentage (.916), 16th in batting average (.458) and 17th in home runs per game (0.36) and home runs (13). Stracher is also 43rd in on-base percentage (.519) and 44th in runs per game (1.03). She leads the CAA in batting, slugging, on-base percentage, RBIs, home runs, total bases and sacrifice flies. Over the weekend, Stracher tied Cahill's single-season home run mark when she hit her 13th homer of the season against Drexel.
LAST TIME OUT FOR GEORGETOWN: Freshman
Olivia Russ hit a solo homer during Georgetown's 6-2 loss to Creighton on Sunday. Freshman
Sarah Bennett delivered a RBI single. Sophomore
Theresa Kane and seniors
Taylor Henry and
Samantha Giovanniello each added hits for the Hoyas.
ON DECK: Towson hosts Elon in a critical weekend series. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 12 p.m. and a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
