The Matchup: Towson (15-29, 5-7 CAA) @ Delaware (9-17, 5-11 CAA)
The Game: May 7, 1 p.m. | May 8, 1 p.m. (DH) | May 9, 1 p.m. (Friday game change)
Place: Bob Hannah Stadium – Newark, Del.
Broadcast: FloBaseball ($) / YouTube
Live Stats: bluehens.com
 
NEWARK, Del. – The Towson University baseball team is ready for the second series against Delaware this weekend, heading to Newark for a four-game set from May 7-9.
 
Game times will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, 1 p.m. for the Saturday doubleheader and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
 
The game will be broadcast online on FloSports/FloBaseball via subscription as well as on YouTube.  Live stats will be available via bluehens.com.
 
This is second series between the CAA North teams as Towson begins the second half of conference play.
 
Towson is coming off a series sweep at Northeastern this weekend, holding second place in the CAA North at 5-7 and 15-29 overall.  Delaware fell in three of four games at Hofstra over the weekend and is in last place in the CAA North at 5-11 and 9-17 overall.
 
In the first meeting at the start of April, Towson took the final three of four games vs. Delaware at home.  All-time, Delaware leads the series 84-45, with Towson taking the last two series, including five of the last seven contests dating back to 2019.
 
Projected Starting Rotation - Towson:
Game 1 - Josh Seils, RHP (2-5, 6.36 ERA, 58.0 IP, 39/34 K-BB)
Game 2 - Nick Janowicz, RHP (2-2, 6.22 ERA, 46.1 IP, 37/20 K-BB)
Game 3 - Nick Ramanjulu, RHP (1-4, 6.28 ERA, 38.2 IP, 31/15 K-BB)
Game 4 - Danny Madden, LHP (1-2, 4.43 ERA, 44.2 IP, 40/34 K-BB)
Projected Starting Rotation - Delaware:
Game 1 - Chris Ludman, RHP (3-4, 4.15 ERA, 65.0 IP, 60/15 K-BB)
Game 2 - Dom Velazquez, RHP (2-6, 4.57 ERA, 45.1 IP, 63/19 K-BB)
Game 3 - TBA
Game 4 – TBA
 
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 SWEPT AT NORTHEASTERN
Challenging the top team in the CAA North, Towson played competitively in all four games, but got swept by the Huskies.
Key stat:
--Towson starting pitchers: 23.2 IP, 6 ER, 9 K
Top Towson batter:
--#23 Billy Godrick: .286 (4-for-14), 2 R, RBI
Top Towson pitcher:
--#45 Nick Janowicz: 6 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 K
 
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 127 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 59 bases in 77 attempts.  Javon Fields is 16-for-20 on stolen bases while Danny Becerra is 11-for-14.  As of May 5, Towson is tied for 34th 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.
 
WE ARE TAKING FIRST
Towson has shown great patience at the plate this season, combining for 274 free passes off 205 walks and 69 hit-by-pitches.  205 walks are 19th in the NCAA while 69 hit-by-pitches is 10th, with each leading the CAA.
 
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 .257 with 40 free passes and eight steals.  Danny Becerra, transfer from San Diego Mesa, is the team's starting shortstop and is second on the team with 11 stolen bases, adding a .253 average.  Illinois State transfer Nolan Young is the second baseman, hitting .238 with 21 RBI.
 
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:
Delaware ranks second to last in the CAA in ERA at 5.88, but is fifth in the league with a .268 batting average.  The team's top batter is graduate student outfielder Kyle Baker, who leads the CAA with a .385 batting average, adding eight doubles, two home runs and 13 RBI.  The team's top pitcher is junior righty Chris Ludman, who sports a 3-4 record and 4.15 ERA, striking out 60 batters in 65 innings pitched.