The Matchup: Towson (3-22, 0-3 CAA) vs. George Washington (15-12, 2-4 A10)
When: Wednesday, April 3
rd – 3 p.m.
Where: Schuerholz Park – Towson, Md.
Online Broadcast: Towson Sports Network
Series: George Washington leads 36-28-2
TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University baseball team is back home for its next six games, beginning with a Wednesday matinee rematch against George Washington on Wednesday, April 3rd at 3 p.m. at Schuerholz Park.
The Towson Sports Network will broadcast the game online. Those looking to attend the game at Schuerholz Park may do so free of charge.
Towson, out of the Colonial Athletic Association, is looking to snap a 10-game losing streak and is coming off a series sweep at Florida Gulf Coast over the weekend. The Tigers currently stand at 3-22 overall and 0-3 in the CAA. Out of the Atlantic 10 Conference, George Washington fell in two of three games against Saint Joseph's over the weekend to enter at 15-12 overall and 2-4 in its league.
This is the second mid-week meeting between Towson and George Washington, with the Colonials winning game one in Fairfax 13-8 on March 12th. GW has taken the last three games in the matchup to lead the all-time series 36-28-2. Towson and GW have played at least one game every year since 1987.
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
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 (.289), hits (26), doubles (5), triples (3) and stolen bases (6). He had a 14-game bases reached streak snapped on March 30.
Coaching Staff Intact for 2019
Head coach
Matt Tyner, in his second year, returns all assistant coaches for the 2019 season.
Miles Miller is back as the team's pitching coach in his second season, as is hitting coach
Tanner Biagini and volunteer assistant
Mickey Williard, the infield coach.
Eric Franc is back, in his ninth season with the program, as the director of player development.
Two former players,
Skyler Morris and
Charlie Watters, will serve as student assistants. Three other students will serve in other roles:
Isabelle Pardew is the director of baseball analytics,
Emma Toth is the student manager and
Jon Wancowicz is the bullpen catcher.
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.
1988 Team Inducted into Towson Athletics Hall of Fame
The 1988 Towson baseball team was inducted as a "Team of Distinction" into the Towson Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2018.
The 1988 Tigers were the first Towson men's team to earn a Division I postseason berth after winning the East Coast Conference Tournament.
Under head coach Mike Gottlieb, Towson finished 31-17-1. .645 is still the best winning percentage for a Towson baseball team in a single season, while 17 losses is the fewest amount in a season to date.
Four Towson players earned First Team All-Conference distinction that year: Kevin King (SS), who is in the Towson Athletics Hall of Fame as a player, Chris Nabholz (P), Mike Wlazlak (3B) and Robbie Smith (1B).
Scouting George Washington
Through its first two conference weekends, George Washington comes in ninth place in the Atlantic 10, but is third among its league schools in total victories with 15.
The Colonials are led by Gregg Ritchie in his seventh season. Previously, he was the hitting coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Junior infielder Nate Fassnacht is one of two players hitting above .400 on the team, having a .417 average with 15 doubles, five home runs and 30 RBI. Senior utility player Dom D'Alessandro comes in with a .415 batting average, four home runs and 28 RBI.
George Washington has had 10 different pitchers make starts in the 2019 season, including freshman Rich Pfluger, a lefty who started last time vs. Towson and has a 3-0 record with a 5.19 ERA and 13 strikeouts. The closer is junior right-hander Keagan McGinnis, who is 2-2 with four saves off a 4.50 ERA and 27 strikeouts.
About Schuerholz Park
Named in honor of Towson alum John Schuerholz and his father, Schuerholz Park, next to the Student Union building, underwent some changes for the 2019 season, including the addition of Bermuda grass and new DuraEdge infield material.
