TOWSON, MD. –Great weather greeted the Towson University softball team on the first day of practice.

"It's a beautiful day," said head coach Lisa Costello. "We are glad to be back and excited to get the season going."

The team split into different groups after running small drills in the Tiger Softball Complex with strength and condition coach Kyle Hashimoto. The pitchers and catchers worked outside as the hitters went into the Towson Center to work in the batting cages.

Towson will begin their season on the road in the USC Upstate tournament Feb.7-9 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Tiger fans will have numerous opportunities to see the Tigers as they have 27 home games beginning with a home tournament March 6.

Towson returns 17 student-athletes, including senior Julia Smith-Harrington who led the team and CAA last year in doubles (18). She was also named to the CAA All-Second Team and CoSIDA Academic All-District ® Team after having a .323 batting average with eight home runs and 39 RBIs. In the circle for Towson, she had a 2.20 ERA, 6-3 overall record and 58 strikeouts.