TOWSON, Md. – Now, the fun begins for the Towson University softball team as Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play starts.
 
The Tigers (9-13 overall) will make the short trek up Interstate 95 to face rival Delaware (8-12) in a three-game series starting Friday at 3 p.m. That game was moved from Sunday because of the threat of inclement weather. The series will conclude with a Saturday doubleheader starting at noon.
 
Towson won two out of three last season against the Blue Hens. The Tigers have won the last three series over Delaware, which included winning two out of three in 2015 in their last visit to Newark.
 
"We look forward to CAA play every year," junior Shelby Stracher said. "It's a ton of fun. We're really excited to get out there and work hard. We excited to play Delaware and that's kind of home for us because it's close. We don't have to stay overnight in a hotel and we get to sleep in our own beds. There's always a lot of fire and energy whenever we play Delaware. It's not bad blood because we respect each other as teams. There's a little motivation because we are so close to each other."
 
Towson was picked to finish second in the CAA preseason poll behind James Madison. Meanwhile, Delaware, which qualified for the CAA tournament last season, was picked to finish sixth. Preseason polls mean nothing now as the Tigers and Blue Hens renew the softball version of the Duke-North Carolina basketball rivalry. Overall, Delaware has a slim 56-54 edge in the series.
 
Of course, the last time Towson saw Delaware, senior slugger Holiday Cahill produced the greatest single-game performance by an individual in Towson softball history. During the Tigers' 9-3 victory on May 1, Cahill set single-game program records with three home runs and seven RBI's. Cahill is currently tied for the all-time lead in home runs with Aimee Rosa. They each have 31.
 
Not that Towson head coach Lisa Costello planned the schedule this way, but thanks to a pair of home tournaments being cancelled, the Tigers are reluctantly bringing the Travel Channel to life. They are in the midst of a five-school, 12-game road trip. By the time, the Tigers actually host a home game (weather permitting of course) on April 5 against Georgetown, they will have played their first 30 games off-campus.
 
VIRGINIA TRIP RECAP: Towson went 1-3 on its quick road trip to Virginia and Longwood. The Tigers split a doubleheader at Virginia, dropping the first game, 5-4 in extra innings and winning the second game, 7-4. Towson lost two games to Longwood by scores of 5-4 and 8-2. During the four games, Towson was led by Shelby Stracher's .429 batting average. Stracher had two extra base hits including her 26th career homer along with four RBIs. Brook Miko (.417) and Daria Edwards (.412) also swung hot bats for the Tigers. Miko has a six-game hitting streak. Edwards had a pair of three hit games against Virginia in both ends of the doubleheader. Kendyl Scott also had six hits and a .375 average. Megan Dejter had a 2.52 ERA to lead the Tigers.
 
DELAWARE UPDATE: The Blue Hens have won six straight games after sweeping Villanova in a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon, 5-4 and 6-4. Mariah Kondravy homered during the DH sweep lifting her career home run total to 21, two shy of the school record. Giovanna Kolofer finished 5 of 8 at the plate and extended her hitting streak to eight games. The Blue Hens have been led most of the season by Anna Steinmetz, who is tied for the CAA lead with five home runs and second in the conference in slugging percentage (.710) and total bases (44).
 
UP NEXT: Towson visits George Mason Wednesday afternoon for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. Towson split a doubleheader last year against the Patriots. Towson is 45-30 all-time against its former CAA playmate.