TOWSON, Md. – Freshmen Emily Ward, Julia Smith-Harrington, Madison Wilson, Jaclyn Mounie, and Jessica Swistock have fit in perfectly with the Towson University softball team.
 
Not only have their pleasant personalities seamlessly blended with the likeable veterans, the quintet have also made plenty of meaningful contributions during Towson's first 18 games of the 2017 season. They have hit for power, scored timely runs, pitched magnificently, and demonstrated poise far beyond their years.
 
This week will serve as a homecoming for Virginia residents Wilson and Mounie, who played on the same Virginia Legends travel team.
 
Towson (8-10 overall) begins a 12-game road trip by playing a pair of consecutive midweek doubleheaders at the University of Virginia (10-16) on Tuesday starting at 4 p.m. and Longwood (8-16) on Wednesday beginning at 2 p.m. The Tigers will play their first game in 16 days when they meet the Cavaliers.
 
"It's going to be fun playing in Virginia this week," Mounie said. "I am looking forward to it. My sister goes to Longwood. I miss Virginia a lot so it will be cool playing there. We wanted to have a home opener before we headed back on the road again, but that didn't happen. We're still keeping our energy level up and doing everything we can to be ready for our games this week."
 
They enjoy each other's company and having fun. During last week's group interview, they couldn't stop laughing at the other when they were answering questions in the Towson Center. They are also still adjusting in their own way to the demands of balancing school work and being a Division I softball student-athlete.
 
Getting to know the group doesn't require much work as five minutes around the freshman will make that task easy. According to Swistock, Mounie is the most outgoing of the group and "keeps it interesting." Ward is organized. Smith-Harrington is calm and gives great advice. Wilson is always there for everybody whether it's going to get food or going to the mall.
 
A business major, Swistock transferred from Winthrop and joined the Tigers in January. She was immediately embraced and has fit in well with the team.
 
"The freshmen took me in right away which is such a blessing," Swistock said. "The entire team has been so welcoming to me especially the freshmen and immediately it was like a second family. We have a good mix of everything."
 
Added Mounie: "We have a really tight bond and we're each other's best friends. I can't describe it. We joke around and everybody gets along with each other. We're here for each other."
 
Wilson and Smith-Harrington has seen the most action among the Towson freshmen.
 
Wilson has been in the middle of most of the offensive action this season for the Tigers. She hit both of home runs against Colgate to fuel a 9-2 win. Wilson was also named to the Carolina Classic All-Tournament team. She is hitting .293 with 17 hits.
 
"It's been exciting to contribute, but also very nerve-wracking too," Wilson said. "I am glad that I've been able to step up to the challenge of starting. (Being named to the all-tournament team) built up my confidence, which I really needed."
 
Smith-Harrington leads Towson with five wins and 24 strikeouts. She has five complete games and a 3.50 earned run average. Smith-Harrington, who is from Oregon, has relied on her freshman teammates who have helped her adjust to life on the east coast.
 
"It's been really hard to keep up with my family and friends back home because of the three-hour time difference," Smith-Harrington said. "You kind of forget the distance at times because the weather is kind of the same and you're always busy. Plus when you're part of a team like this everyone has your back and they're you're second family. So that makes it a lot easier."
 
Mounie and Swistock have been used primarily as pinch runners and have combined to score five runs. Ward had a pair of RBIs during Towson's 10-5 win over Western Michigan. She also patiently worked a bases loaded walk during the Tigers' six-run seventh-inning rally.
 
"It's been relieving and exciting to be able to help the team," Ward said. "As a freshman, you have to prove yourself. When I got my at-bats and was able to execute, it made me feel good. It's been fun traveling on the bus and getting to know everybody. It was a way for us to bond."
 
Towson Update: Since it's been a while since the Tigers played, here's a quick review of the season leaders. Nicole Stockinger is Towson's leading hitter with a .340 average. She's one of six Tigers hitting over .300. Towson is hitting .282 as a team. Holiday Cahill and Kendyl Scott lead Towson with 12 RBIs each. Daria Edwards, Scott and Wilson lead Towson with 18 hits each. Brook Miko has reached base in four straight games for the Tigers.
 
A Look At Virginia: The Cavaliers were swept in a weekend series by N.C. State, losing Sunday 9-1. Virginia has lost four straight and seven of its last eight. The Cavs are 2-4 overall at home this season. Ashlee Davis and Iyana Hughes combined to go 3-for-3 during Sunday's game against N.C. State. Hitting .286 as a team, Virginia has a quartet of hitters with averages above .300: Davis (.387), Katie Park (.349), McKall Miller (.328) and Olivia Gott (.323). They have combined to hit 18 of Virginia's 26 home runs. Gott leads UVa with six homers and 17 RBIs. Towson swept Virginia in a doubleheader last season by scores of 10-2 and 6-3.
 
A Look At Longwood: The Lancers will be the fourth school that participated in last season's NCAA tournament that Towson will face this season. Members of the Big South Conference, Longwood lost 9-2 to Campbell on Sunday. Kaylynn Batten led the Lancers at the plate with a 2-for-2 performance. Batten is Longwood's leading hitter with a .297 average. Karleigh Donovan (.264 batting average) and Jordan Clark (.255) have combined for 32 hits. Batten and Donovan have combined for 11 doubles.
 
Up Next: Towson opens Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play with a doubleheader against rival Delaware Saturday at 12 p.m. Towson won two out of three last season from the Blue Hens. The last time Towson faced Delaware, Cahill set a single-game program record with three home runs and seven RBIs. The Tigers were picked to finish second in the CAA preseason poll.