The Games: Towson (10-30, 1-11 CAA) @ Northeastern (20-21-1, 4-8 CAA)
When: Friday, April 29 – 2 p.m. | Saturday, April 30 – 1 p.m. | Sunday, May 1 – 1 p.m.
Where: Friedman Diamond – Boston, Mass.
Broadcast: FloSports ($)
Series: Northeastern leads 40-27
 
BOSTON – The Towson University baseball team goes back to CAA play this weekend, taking on the reigning league champion Northeastern for a three-game series in Boston.  Games are set for Friday, April 29 at 2 p.m., Saturday April 30 at 1 p.m. and Sunday, May 1 at 1 p.m.
 
The games will be streamed on FloSports.  Visit FloSports.tv/CAA to view the full Colonial Athletic Association schedule and sign up today.
 
Towson fell in a rescheduled mid-week contest at UMBC 12-3 on Wednesday, entering the weekend at 10-30 overall and 1-11 in the CAA.  Northeastern split in mid-week games, falling to UConn 5-2 and defeating Hartford 3-1, to be 20-21-1 overall and 4-8 in the conference.
 
These two teams finished first and second in last year's CAA North.  Northeastern won six of seven matchups and leads the overall series 40-27.
 
DICKERSON SELECTED AS CAA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Elijah Dickerson became the first Towson baseball player to earn CAA Player of the Week since 2017, hitting .517 during the week on April 18-24.  He earned a .714 on-base percentage, getting on base at least twice in all four games.
 
Dickerson hit three home runs during the week plus had a walk-off, game-winning RBI triple in a, extra-inning victory vs. Hofstra.
 
CAMPER EARNS CBN NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Burke Camper had a huge week from Mar. 14-20, hitting .545 with five home runs and 10 RBI in four games to be one of 10 players across the country to be named Collegiate Baseball News National Player of the Week.
 
Camper also had a 1.909 slugging percentage, four walks and seven runs scored.
 
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 FALLS AT UMBC
Towson scored the opening two runs of the game but fell to its Baltimore County rival 12-3 on Wednesday in Catonsville.
Key stat:
--Towson notched nine hits, drew nine walks
Top Towson batter:
--#4 Jack McLaughlin: 2-for-5, HR, 2B, 2 R, RBI
Top Towson pitcher:
--#33 Jordan Luton: 1 IP, 0 R, 2 K
 
WELCOME NEW STAFF
Two new coaches joined the team for the 2022 season.  Blake Nation is the new pitching coach after three years at Hofstra, where he coached 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 associate head coach in his fifth year with the team.
 
JACK ATTACK
Jack McLaughlin stands as one of the top hitters in the CAA with a .346 batting average, standing fifth in the league.  He is on pace to have the highest batting average for a Towson player since Gary Helmick hit .430 in 2009 and Brady Policelli who hit .375 in 2016.  McLaughlin can get into the top-10 in Towson single season history if he bats above .390 this season.
 
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:
Northeastern is the CAA leader in team ERA at 3.63, led by Friday starter Wyatt Scotti, who is 7-2 with a 2.63 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 65 innings.  On the batting side, the Huskies are eighth in the CAA in batting average at .235; freshman outfielder Mike Sirota hits .326 with four home runs, 14 doubles and 20 RBI.