TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University softball team begins an eight-game homestand by hosting the TU Invite at the Tiger Softball Stadium Friday morning.
 
The Tigers will welcome St. John's (3-10 overall), Quinnipiac (1-4), and Bucknell (4-6) to campus for the three-day event. There will be three games each day beginning at 10 a.m. Towson's home opener is Friday afternoon against St. John's at 3 p.m.
 
The Tigers are off to a 10-3 start for the second time in three years and third time this decade.
 

Friday March 2, 2018
Quinnipiac vs. St. John's, 10 a.m.	LIVE STATS
Bucknell vs. Quinnipiac, 12:30 p.m.	LIVE STATS
ST. JOHN'S vs. TOWSON, 3 p.m.	LIVE STATS
Saturday, March 3, 2018
Quinnipiac vs. Bucknell, 10 a.m.	LIVE STATS
QUINNIPIAC vs. TOWSON, 12:30 p.m.	LIVE STATS
St. John's vs. Bucknell, 3 p.m.	LIVE STATS
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Quinnipiac vs. St. John's, 10 a.m.	LIVE STATS
Bucknell vs. St. John's, 12:30 p.m.	LIVE STATS
BUCKNELL vs. TOWSON, 3 p.m.	LIVE STATS

 
Last Weekend
The Tigers won all of their games at the Charlotte 49er Classic, beating Oakland (8-4, 10-1) and Charlotte (7-2, 7-4) twice each. On Tuesday, former high school teammates Nicole Stockinger (Player of the Week) and Megan Dejter (Pitcher of the Week) heard their names called with the weekly league awards. Stockinger had a hit in every game and finished with a .636 average to go with two homers (including a grand slam), two doubles, two walks, and eight RBI in all. Dejter improved to 5-0 with three wins in the circle, going 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA over 16 innings of work.
 
Among the National Leaders
As a team, Towson is ranked among the top 20 nationally in five statistical categories. The Tigers are sixth in scoring (7.6 runs per game), 10th in batting average (.352), 15th in slugging percentage (.522), 17th in doubles per game (1.85) and 18th in on-base percentage (.419).  
 
Magnificent Madison
Madison Wilson continues to lead the CAA in overall average and enters the weekend ranking in the Top 25 nationally for seven individual categories. She leads the Tigers with a .563 average through 13 games. Ten of her 27 hits have gone for extra bases.
 
Mighty Miko
Brook Miko is enjoying a solid start to the season with a .442 average, which is third in the CAA. She leads Towson with three homers and 16 RBIs. Miko leads the CAA in runs scored (18) and homers.
 
Current Streaks
Wilson has a 15-game hitting streak dating back to last year … Miko has hit safely in eight straight games … Stockinger has a four-game hitting streak … Daria Edwards, Miko, and Wilson have reached base in every game this season … Kendall Arcia and Stockinger have reached base in six straight games.
 
Here's a brief look at Towson's competition this weekend.
 
St. John's
The Red Storm are coming into the tournament with a 3-10 record so far this season. Members of the Big East Conference, St. John's is led by Krystal Puga and Marissa Rizzi, who boast four home runs and 12 RBI's apiece early in the season. Christine Melendez leads the Red Storm with a .475 batting average. Puga (.364 average), Mattera (.355), and Rizzi (.305) also hit over .300. Madison Morris leads the pitching staff with two wins and 25 strikeouts. St. John's is batting .259 as a team and has a .576 earned run average.
 
Quinnipiac
 The Bobcats went 1-4 over the weekend, losing one-run contests to Northern Iowa and Florida A&M before earning its first win of the year in a 5-4 victory over Kennesaw State in nine innings. Miranda Magana went 8-19 (.421) with three doubles, one home run and six RBI's last weekend. Casey Herzog earned her first win of the season after pitching a nine-inning complete game in a 5-4 win over Kennesaw State. It was one of Herzog's two complete games in two starts over the weekend. Herzog leads the staff with 16 strikeouts and a 1.27 ERA. Quinnipiac was picked to finish eighth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Junior infielder Rebecca Drake was named to the Preseason All-MAAC team.

Bucknell
The Bison have won three of its last four games. Meghan Kovac leads the Bucknell offense with a team-high two home runs and six RBI's through 10 games. Freshman Taylor Wolfgang (.292) and senior Meghan Kovac (.273) are the Bison's leading hitters. Sophomore Lauran Lichtenwalner leads the pitching staff with a 2-2 record, including two complete games and a 1.80 ERA. The Bison enter with a .198 team batting average. One of Bucknell's wins was a 3-0 decision over UNCW.
 
Up Next
Towson remains home where it will host the Tiger Clash on Saturday, March 10 and Sunday, March. The Tigers will play Fairfield (12:30 p.m.) and Mount St. Mary's (3 p.m.) on Saturday and Fairfield (12:30 p.m.) on Sunday.