The Matchup: Towson (13-22, 3-1 CAA) @ Hofstra (10-12, 1-6 CAA)
The Game: April 23, 11 a.m. DH / April 24, 11 a.m. DH
Place: University Field – Hempstead, N.Y.
Broadcast: Hofstra All-Access
Live Stats: gohfostra.com
 
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – After a three-week wait, the Towson University baseball team returns to Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play this weekend, traveling to Long Island to play Hofstra for a pair of 11 a.m. doubleheaders on April 23-24.
 
The games will broadcast on Hofstra All-Access.  Live stats will be available on gohofstra.com.
 
The series was rescheduled due to expected inclement weather on Sunday in the Hempstead area.
 
Towson's three-game winning streak was snapped on Wednesday in an 8-4 defeat at George Washington, but the Tigers stand in second place in the CAA North at 3-1 and 13-22 overall.  Hofstra fell in three of four to Delaware last weekend and is in fourth place in the CAA North at 1-6 and 10-12 overall.
 
Longtime conference rivals, Towson and Hofstra have played 95 times since 1985, with Towson leading the all-time series 59-36.  The Tigers have won the last six series vs. the Pride, including in 2019 when Towson took the first two of three in Hempstead.
 
Projected Starting Rotation - Towson:
Game 1 - Josh Seils, RHP (2-4, 6.60 ERA, 46.1 IP, 36/28 K-BB)
Game 2 - Nick Janowicz, RHP (2-1, 8.10 ERA, 33.1 IP, 26/17 K-BB)
Game 3 - Danny Madden, LHP (1-2, 4.95 ERA, 36.1 IP, 35/24 K-BB)
Game 4 - Nick Ramanjulu, RHP (1-4, 7.48 ERA, 27.2 IP, 26/12 K-BB)
Projected Starting Rotation - Hofstra:
Game 1 - Jack Jett, RHP (2-2, 1.39 ERA, 32.1 IP, 42/8 K-BB)
Game 2 or 3 - Jimmy Joyce, RHP (1-2, 3.55 ERA, 45.2 IP, 45/13 K-BB)
Game 2 or 3 - Mark Faello, RHP (2-0, 3.20 ERA, 19.2 IP, 13/7 K-BB)
Game 4 - Ryan Rue, LHP (2-0, 9.50 ERA, 18.0 IP, 9/12 K-BB)
 
FIELDS NAMED PRESEASON HM ALL-CAA
Javon Fields was selected as 2021 Preseason Honorable Mention All-CAA in the preseason coaches poll.  Fields was previously 2020 Preseason All-CAA and 2019 CAA All-Rookie Team.
 
He has started nearly every game in his Towson career as the team's centerfielder, hitting .293 last season.
 
LAST TIME: TOWSON FALLS AT GW 8-4
    Playing in 30MPH winds in Arlington, Towson led 4-2 early against George Washington, but fell 8-4 after six unanswered from the Colonials.
Key stat:
--Towson hits back-to-back home runs in second
Top Towson batter:
--#6 Brandon Austin: 1-for-2, solo HR, 2 BB
Top Towson pitcher:
--#38 Nolan Bolt: 2 IP, 0 R
 
SEILS, CAMPER NAMED TOP-10 CAA DRAFT CLASS PROSPECTS
Two Tigers, Josh Seils and Burke Camper, were ranked in the top-10 among CAA players in their respective Major League Baseball classes by Perfect Game USA.  Among CAA players, Seils is ninth in the 2021 draft class while Camper is ninth in the 2022 draft class.
 
Seils was eligible for the MLB Draft last year but returned to Towson.  The junior pitcher is Towson's Friday starter, has 124 career strikeouts and threw 6.1 innings with two runs against #7 Miami last year.
 
Camper was one of the CAA's top freshmen last year, hitting .314 with three doubles and 11 RBI in 15 games, split between catcher and designated hitter.
 
GO!
Towson has had a strong start on the basepaths, stealing 52 bases in 67 attempts.  Javon Fields is 12-for-14 on stolen bases while Danny Becerra is 10-for-13.  As of April 15, Towson is tied for 19th in DI in total stolen bases.
 
REPPING THE HOME STATE
14 who suit up for the Black & Gold hail from the Old Line State of Maryland.  This includes several players from the Baltimore metropolitan area: Nick Brown, Alex Parker, Trent Gast-Woodard, Bryce Frederick and Ryan Schechner.
 
BRING BACK THE STAFF...
Towson returns 12 pitchers who accounted for 127.2 of the 128 innings thrown during the 2020 season.  They combined for a 4.29 team ERA under pitching coach Miles Miller, 1.3 points better than in 2019.  Two Tigers, Austin Weber and Nick Ramanjulu, ranked top-10 in the CAA in ERA at 2.94 and 3.22 respectively.
 
NEWCOMERS ADD TO THE LINEUP
Several newcomers have been key parts to the Towson lineup in 2021.  Billy Godrick, grad transfer from Fordham, locks down right field and hits .252 with 30 free passes and eight steals.  Danny Becerra, transfer from San Diego Mesa, is the team's starting shortstop and is second on the team in batting average.  Illinois State transfer Nolan Young is the second baseman, hitting .224 with 16 RBI, second on the team.
 
TIGERS IN THE PROS
Towson has two players in the minor leagues.  Richie Palacios, a third round pick by Cleveland in 2018, is the #31 rated-prospect in the system, missing 2019 due to shoulder surgery.  Brady Policelli, a 13th round draft pick by the Detroit Tigers in 2016, was a spring training invite in 2019 and 2020 after earning FSL All-Star honors in 2019. Gavin Weyman pitched in the independent United Shore Professional Baseball League in 2020 for the second straight year.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT:
Hofstra stands fourth in the CAA in batting average (.265) and third in ERA (4.78).  Senior infielder Austin Gauthier is hitting .347 with three home runs and a .530 on-base percentage while grad student Brian Goulard hits .250 with a team-best 25 RBI.  The top pitcher is grad student Jack Jett, who is 2-2 with a 1.39 ERA, striking out 42 in 32.1 innings.