TOWSON, Md. – Not all of the top horses were at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
 
Several of the Towson softball thoroughbreds were present during a power-packed four-run sixth inning rally that was the springboard to a pair of victories over rival UNCW and a fourth consecutive appearance in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament.
 
Sophomores Shelby Stracher and Brook Miko delivered the big hits as Towson rallied to beat UNCW, 6-5, in the opener. The Tigers used the momentum of that victory to complete the sweep with an 8-2 victory in the second game at the Towson Softball Stadium on Senior Day.
 
The Tigers finished the regular season strong like 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah by sprinting to victories in four of their final five contests to earn the No. 2 seed in next week's tournament, which will be hosted by James Madison. The Tigers will meet third-seeded Charleston on Wednesday beginning at noon at Veteran's Memorial Park.
 
Prior to the start of the doubleheader, Towson recognized its four seniors Ambar Hickman, Courtney Johnson, Caitie Barber and Olivia Yarbrough.
 
The Tiger Softball Stadium was meticulously decorated with yellow and black balloons hanging throughout the commodious complex, white class of 2016 ribbon on railings and four poster-sized photos of each senior hanging on the wall in front of the press box. As an added special touch, each senior had their jersey numbers painted onto the lush green grass in front of Towson's first-base dugout. The numbers were painted yellow and outlined in black.
 
"It's amazing to win these games today for our seniors," Stracher said. "I love every one of them. I just hope they know how much they've meant to our team as senior leaders and it was great to really get this win for them."
 
How It Happened Game One

• Trailing 5-2 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, the Tigers went to work.
• Caroline Reid started the uprising by patiently drawing a leadoff walk after being down in the count 0-2.
• Senior Olivia Yarbrough delivered a one-out RBI double down the left field line to score Reid and bring Towson to within, 5-3.
• Stracher clubbed a game-tying two-run homer over the centerfield batters' eye for her 15th thunderclap of the season.
• After Holiday Cahill followed Stracher with a walk, sophomore Brook Miko delivered the eventual game-winning hit with a ringing double off of the rightfield fence. Bailey Boyd who pinch ran for Cahill, sprinted around the bases from first like Secretariat.
• Towson had to rally because UNCW's Lauren Moore hit a three-run homer in the third inning to give the Seahawks a 5-2 lead.
• Nicole Stockinger had three hits and Daria Edwards added two hits for the Tigers.
• Hickman tossed her 12th complete game of the season.

 
How It Happened Game Two

• Towson burst from the starting blocks by scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning.
• Towson opened a quick 3-0 lead thanks to RBI singles from Cahill and Stockinger sandwiched around an Edwards sacrifice fly.
• Senior Courtney Johnson delivered a two-run single to cap the first inning scoring for the Tigers.
• Stracher added a RBI double in the second inning to expand Towson's lead to 6-0.
• After the Seahawks, closed to within 6-2, Cahill (fourth inning) and Miko (sixth) hit solo home runs for the Tigers.
• Cahill and Kendyl Scott led Towson with two hits each.
• Pitcher Megan Dejter earned her 14th victory of the season by tossing her 19th complete game.
• Dejter retired the final 14 batters she faced.

 
Inside the Numbers

• Towson finished its regular season with 35 victories.
• Stracher set single-season records in home runs (15) and RBIs (56).
• Miko became the third Towson player with at least 10 homers.
• Miko enters the CAA Tournament with a six-game hitting streak.
• Yarbrough has reached base in 11 consecutive games.
• Towson ended the regular season with 66 home runs.
• For Stockinger, it was her third three-hit game of the season.
• Multi-hit games: Cahill (13), Scott (12) and Edwards (11).
• Towson extended its winning streak to 38 when scoring at least seven runs.
• The Tigers are 26-1 this season when scoring at least six runs.
• Towson has hit at least one home run in 34 games.

 
Tournament Seeds
1 – James Madison Dukes (43-4, 18-1 in CAA)
2 – Towson Tigers (35-15, 11-8 in CAA)
3 – College of Charleston Cougars (33-21, 11-9 in CAA)
4 – Elon Phoenix (26-23, 9-8 in CAA)
5 – Delaware Blue Hens (29-19, 9-9 in CAA)
 
2016 CAA Softball Championship
 

Tuesday, May 10

3:00 p.m. - Game 1: No. 4 Elon vs. No. 5 Delaware

Wednesday, May 11

12:00 p.m. - Game 2: No. 2 Towson vs. No. 3 College of Charleston

2:30 p.m. - Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. No. 1 James Madison

5:00 p.m. - Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2

Thursday, May 12

12:00 p.m. - Game 5: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3

2:30 p.m. - Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3

5:00 p.m. - Game 7: Loser Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6

Friday, May 13 | 12:00 p.m. | Championship Game Game airs on the American Sports Network and CAA.tv

12:00 p.m. - Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7

2:30 p.m. - Game 9: If necessary (30 minutes following Game 8)