Over the next six weeks one of Towson's senior softball student-athletes will be featured. This week we caught up with Olivia Baltazar, who is majoring in economics and minoring in business administration.
 
TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University softball team begins Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) competition this weekend when it visits James Madison for a three-game series at Veterans Memorial Park. Towson and JMU will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 11 a.m. The series concludes with a 12 p.m. single game on Sunday.
 
Take some time to get to know Baltazar. She has a 1.31 earned run average and a 2-1 record in 11 appearances for the Tigers, who are 20-5 overall.

Why did you choose Towson?
"I liked my visit and could see myself on the East Coast."

What do you enjoy about your major?
"I enjoy that it's broad and it led to me interning with Morgan Stanley over the summer and eventually a job offer from them." 
 
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat?
"I'm a fan of Instagram because I like to keep it simple with pictures and videos." 

What do you like most about playing softball?
"I enjoy the fact that I've made so many friends over the years. I'll be scrolling through Instagram and (my boyfriend) Chris will ask me who somebody is and nine out of 10 times, I always say 'Oh I used to play softball with her when I was younger' and he always laughs and says that that's what i always say but it's true!"

What is your favorite thing about playing for Coach Costello?
"I feel like every team has its own personality but I feel like this year's team is special. We're not only talented, but we have a great chemistry as well. I feel like coach has fed off of that and allowed herself to open up to us a little more this year and mess around with us from time to time. I like how she always keeps things light, even after a loss she always says that there's wins and learns and we have to learn from losses and move on, so i just enjoy playing for a coach that has such a positive attitude."

What's the most challenging aspect of being a student-athlete?
"Definitely, time management and having to do school work on the road."
 
If you could play another sport for one day, which one would it be and why?
"Volleyball."
 
Who's the first person you are calling or texting after games?
"My boyfriend Chris. He's always so supportive whether we've won or lost, or if I played or didn't play. He's usually watching the games anyway, but he's always the first person that I always want to talk to and then right after him is my mom."

Who was your favorite athlete growing up and why?
"I've always been a Dodger fan so growing up and I had a total crush on Matt Kemp. I was so sad when he went to another team, but he's back with the Dodgers now! He was my number one when I was young, but when Clayton Kershaw came to the Dodgers, things changed. He's just such an amazing pitcher and so talented. He's probably my favorite athlete now because I love how badly he wants to win every single game even when he's not pitching and how he actually tries to get a hit or make something happen every time he has an at bat."

What song/band is most likely to be playing on your phone?
"That's a tough one, but I've been really into Khalid lately, but if I'm trying to get pumped up before a game, I'll probably have 2 Chainz or Migos playing. I love all kinds of different music."

What current show could you see yourself being a part of?
"I'm obsessed with the office so I would love to be a part of that show." 

What is the best thing about attending Towson?
"I took the risk of coming to Towson and knowing that it was going to be super hard for me to be away from my family. Living on the east coast has been such an awesome time for me and as cliché' as it might sound like it definitely made me grow up and see the world and people from a different perspective."
 
Favorite vacation destination?
"Costa Rica. I love it there and contemplated moving there. It's just so beautiful and peaceful."
 
Most memorable team road trip and why?
"My sophomore year when we went to northern California. Of course, it rained but i got to see my family and some funny things happened on the trip as well." 
 
What will you miss about your teammates and being part of the Towson softball program?
"I will miss all the shenanigans that go on constantly. I laugh all the time for one reason or another. I am just going to miss being part of a team."

Words to live by?
"Just live in the moment. As a senior, that's definitely what I'm trying to do because there's so much other stuff going on with graduation and everything else but my time with my teammates is going to be the majority of what I think about when I look back at my college time so I'm just trying to live in the moment as much as I can." 
 
A Look At James Madison: The Dukes were picked to finish first in the CAA preseason coaches' poll … JMU is 19-7 overall after dropping its last two games to Ohio and East Carolina … The Dukes' top hitters are Odicci Alexander (.397 batting average, seven home runs, 29 RBIs), Kate Gordon (.367, 5 HR, 20 RBI), Morgan Tolle (.356), and Cambry Arnold (.316) … Towson will most likely face pitchers Payton Buresch (0.94 earned run average, 9-4) and Alexander (2.16, 10-2).
 
Next Game: Towson returns home to host Siena in a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 28 beginning at 2 p.m.