BALTIMORE – The Towson University softball team competes in its final non-conference weekend at nearby UMBC, taking on Lafayette and Quinnipiac.
 
The Tigers will play a pair of 2 p.m. games: vs. Lafayette on Saturday, March 19 and vs. Quinnipiac on Sunday, March 20 at the UMBC Softball Stadium.
 
Towson had a five-game winning streak snapped in a doubleheader split vs. Villanova on Wednesday to stand at 6-11 overall.  Lafayette and Quinnipiac enter the weekend at 5-10 and 2-8 overall respectively, with each playing other games during the weekend before taking on Towson.
 
Both games will be broadcast on AmericaEast.tv.
 
COSTELLO EARNS 750^TH CAREER VICTORY
 
Towson head coach Lisa Costello earned her 750^th career victory on March 16 at Villanova.
 
Currently in her 27^th season with the Tigers, Costello, who has been the head coach since the 1995-96 season, has been at the helm of 18 winning seasons for Towson, including nine years with at least 34 victories.  In 2018, Towson earned a berth into the National Invitational Softball Championship with a program record 42 wins.
 
As of 2022, Costello is the 33^rd winningest active coach in Division I by total wins.
 
JACKSON EARNS CAA PITCHER OF THE WEEK
 
With a one-run complete game against Monmouth, Julia Jackson was selected as the CAA Pitcher of the Week, her first-ever league weekly honor.
 
Jackson allowed just four hits and struck out four batters in her sixth complete game of the year.  So far in 2022, Jackson has a 3.85 ERA in 52.2 innings, striking out 38 batters.
 
THE LAKE EFFECT
 
Mackenzie Lake returns as Towson's starting shortstop after being a member of the CAA All-Rookie Team in 2021.
 
Lake thus far is avoiding the sophomore slump, hitting 345 with three home runs and 11 RBI, plus has nine free passes to just six strikeouts.  So far in her two seasons with Towson, Lake has a career batting average of .366.
 
FEAR THE FRESHMAN
 
Sydni Byers is off to a strong start in her freshman campaign, hitting .340 with two home runs and 10 RBI, each second on the team.  The New Bern native has five multi-hit games to contribute to a .543 slugging percentage.
 
BATTING AROUND
 
The Tigers currently have three players in the top-13 of the CAA in batting average through March 16:
--Briana Ramirez: .375, 5^th in CAA
--Mackenzie Lake: .345, 11^th in CAA
--Sydni Byers: .340, 13^th in CAA
 
NEWCOMERS
 
Towson added nine new members to the roster including seven true freshmen as well as two transfers from the University of Hartford. These nine join 18 returners, including All-CAA Rookie Team member Mackenzie Lake, and All-CAA Second Team selection Chloe Poulich.

REPPING THE HOME STATE

Five members of the Black and Gold hail from the Old-Line State of Maryland. These players come from the Baltimore-Metro Area, the Washington D.C. Metro Area, and the Eastern Shore.