The Games: Towson (3-10, 0-0 CAA) vs. Fairleigh Dickinson (2-10, 0-0 NEC)
When: March 11 – 11 a.m. (DH) | March 12 – 1 p.m.
Where: John B. Schuerholz Park – Towson, Md.
Broadcast: FloSports ($) (Saturday only)
Series: First meeting
TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University baseball team is back at Schuerholz and will play the next four weekends at home, starting with a three-game series vs. Fairleigh Dickinson. The teams will play an 11 a.m. doubleheader on Friday, March 11 followed by a 1 p.m. single game on Saturday, March 12.
Admission for Towson games is free for the public. See the attached parking flyer for information on coming to campus for Friday's game.
Saturday's game will be broadcast online on FloSports. Visit FloSports.tv/CAA to view the full Colonial Athletic Association schedule and sign up today.
CAA member Towson defeated UMBC 5-1 in the home opener on Tuesday to enter at 3-10 overall. FDU, from the Northeast Conference is trying to end a three-game losing streak, falling to Monmouth 6-2 at home on Tuesday to have a 2-10 overall record.
This is the first-ever meeting between Towson and FDU. FDU is the only NEC opponent Towson will play this season.
Towson's next four weekend opponents at home: FDU, Princeton, UMass and Delaware.
TWO TIGERS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-CAA
A pair of Tigers were honored on preseason all-conference teams by different publications.
Nick Janowicz was selected as Preseason Honorable Mention All-CAA by the league's head coaches. Janowicz was second on the team last season in each strikeouts with 53 and innings pitched with 66.2.
Danny Becerra was named Preseason CAA All-Conference by Perfect Game USA at shortstop. He earned 19 multi-hit contests last year, finishing with 12 doubles, 24 RBI and 11 stolen bases.
COMING OFF CAA TOURNAMENT YEAR
Towson earned an important feat last season, making the CAA Tournament for the first time since 2013. The Tigers finished second in the CAA North at 11-12, including two series victories over Delaware. Towson picked up the 5-seed in the CAA Tournament.
LAST TIME: TOWSON DEFEATS UMBC IN HOME OPENER
Towson's small ball play led to runs in five different innings as the Tigers defeated UMBC 5-1 in the home opener.
Key stat:
--Towson pitching combined for zero earned runs
Top Towson batter:
--#17
Max Samson: 3-for-3, RBI, SB
Top Towson pitcher:
--#15
Nick Ramanjulu: W, 6.0 IP, 1 R (UE), 4 K
WELCOME NEW STAFF
Two new coaches join the team for the 2022 season.
Blake Nation is the new pitching coach after three years at Hofstra, coaching Jim Joyce, a 16th round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.
Also joining is volunteer assistant coach
Paul Benoit, who coached four all-league players at Ottawa University.
In addition, head coach
Matt Tyner elevated
Tanner Biagini to interim associate head coach in his fifth year with the team.
NEWCOMERS MAKING A MARK
Several of Towson's newcomers are making their mark in the early weeks of the season. Three newcomers have the top batting averages (10G minimum):
James Moses at .310,
Jordan Peyton at .286 and
Elijah Dickerson at .282, adding three home runs and 15 RBI.
FEAR THE FRESHMAN
Freshman
Doug Marose won his first college start on Feb. 26, going six innings with an unearned run vs. Southern in an 11-1 victory. He is the first Tiger to earn a victory in his first-ever college start since 2014.
TIGERS IN THE PROS
Towson has two players in the minor leagues.
Richie Palacios, a third-round pick by Cleveland in 2018, is the #9 rated-prospect in the Guardians system, hitting .297 with 33 doubles in the minors. Brady Policelli, a 13th round draft pick by the Detroit Tigers in 2016, was a spring training invite in 2019 and 2020 having spent five years in the minors.
Gavin Weyman has pitched in independent league ball the past three years, throwing for the Ogden Raptors in the Pioneer League in 2021.
TOWSON PICKED SEVENTH IN CAA PRESEASON POLL
Towson has been predicted to finish seventh in the CAA preseason coaches poll as the league returns to a round robin format. Reigning champion Northeastern is predicted to finish first followed by last year's southern division winner UNCW. The rest of the poll is filled out by Charleston, Elon, James Madison, W&M, Towson, Delaware and Hofstra.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT:
FDU was predicted to finish eighth in the Northeast Conference. Sophomore shortstop Joan Sosa is the leading hitter, batting .324 with two home runs and seven RBI while classmate Tommy Verga has a .286 batting average, four home runs and nine RBI. Graduate student Nick Evangelista has thrown the most innings with 16.2, being 0-1 with a 3.78 ERA and eight strikeouts.
