The Matchup: Towson (3-19, 0-3 CAA) at Florida Gulf Coast (16-8, 1-2 ASun)
When: March 29^th-31^st – 6:30/2/12 p.m.
Where: Swanson Stadium – Fort Myers, Fla.
Online Broadcast: Facebook Live
Series: FGCU leads 1-0
 
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Towson University baseball team is off to the Sunshine State for its final non-conference weekend series of the regular season, taking on Florida Gulf Coast from March 29-31 in Fort Myers.
 
Game times will be at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. on Sunday.  All games at Swanson Stadium will be streamed by FGCU on Facebook Live.
 
Towson has fallen in its last seven games, including its lone mid-week contest of the week at George Mason 6-2 on Wednesday, to enter at 3-18 overall and 0-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association.  Florida Gulf Coast has won its last two, each victories over Florida International during the mid-week, to stand at 16-8 overall and 1-2 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.  Each team is playing its final non-conference weekend of the regular season.
 
The Tigers and Florida Gulf Coast have met only one time before, a single game as part of a tournament at Towson on February 27, 2009, with the Eagles winning 8-4.  This is Towson's second weekend against an Atlantic Sun team, previously playing Kennesaw State last month.
 
Freshman Leading the Way
Javon Fields, a true freshman, has proven to be a top tier newcomer, currently leading Towson in several categories including batting average (.321), hits (25), doubles (5), triples (3) and stolen bases (6).  He comes into the weekend having reached base in 13 straight games.
 
Towson is Traveling
The Tigers will be traveling quite a bit in 2019 with games scheduled in 10 different states, primarily up and down the East Coast. 
 
Along with the home state of Maryland, states Towson will have games in this year includes California, Florida, Georgia, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.
 
Seils Earns CAA Pitcher of the Week
Josh Seils earned his first-ever CAA Pitcher of the Week honor on March 18th.  His award came after a stellar start vs. Fordham, picking up the win with eight scoreless innings and six strikeouts.
 
Stramara Named to NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List
Senior Dean Stramara is one of 75 players nationally to be selected to the 2019 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List.
 
In 2018, he had the best ERA for Towson at 3.94 in 21 appearances, striking out 48 batters in 59.1 innings.
 
Towson Predicted to Finish 9th in the CAA Preseason Poll
In the coaches preseason poll, Towson was predicted to finish ninth in the CAA in 2019.  Towson got 13 points.
 
Elon is predicted to finish first with 57 points and four first-place votes, followed by a tie for second between UNC Wilmington and Northeastern.
 
CAA Preseason Poll (first place votes, points)
1. Elon (4), 57
t2. UNC Wilmington (1), 54
t2. Northeastern (4), 54
4. Charleston, 47
5. Delaware, 34
6. James Madison, 32
7. William & Mary, 19
8. Hofstra, 14
9. Towson, 13
 
Tom Flacco Joins the Baseball Team
Tom Flacco, the 2018 CAA Offensive Player of the Year for the Towson football team, comes to the diamond for the baseball team in 2019.
 
Flacco, a graduate of Rutgers University, was drafted in the 32nd round out of high school in 2014 by the Philadelphia Phillies, electing to attend Western Michigan to play football.
 
His brother, Michael, played in the minors from 2009-12 after being drafted in the 31st round by the Baltimore Orioles.
 
Maryland, My Maryland
Towson sports 12 players from the home state of Maryland, coming from all areas of the region.
 
In addition, two freshmen, Trent Gast-Woodard and Nick Brown, each are from the home city of Baltimore.  Gast-Woodard and Brown each attended Archbishop Curley.
 
Scouting Florida Gulf Coast
Florida Gulf Coast has played at home every weekend in the 2019 season except the previous one.
 
Head coach Dave Tollett is the program's first-ever head coach, beginning at FGCU for the 2003 season.
 
FGCU has two of the top-five hitters in batting average in the Atlantic Sun: senior infielder Jay Hayes comes in hitting .419, holding 12 doubles, five home runs and 27 RBI while freshman designated hitter Joe Kinker hits .413, having five home runs, 23 RBI and 23 walks.
 
The rotation is expected to consist of three right-handers:  junior Mason Studstill is 3-0 with a 1.32 ERA, striking out 49 in 34 innings, sophomore Nikolas Bitner stands 1-2 off a 2.88 ERA and 23 Ks in 25 innings while senior Evan Lumbert enters the weekend at 2-2 with a 2-2 record, a 3.14 ERA and 28 strikeouts.
 
About Swanson Stadium
Built in 2004, Swanson Stadium is the home of FGCU, located on campus.  Renovations this decade included the addition of lights and extensions of bullpens and grandstands.
 
- TowsonTigers.com –