The Games: Towson (0-0) @ USC Upstate (0-0), vs. Southern Illinois (0-0)
When:
Friday, Feb. 17 @ USC Upstate, 3 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 18 @ USC Upstate, 2 p.m. | vs. Southern Illinois, 6 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 19 @ USC Upstate, 1 p.m.
Where: Harley Park | Russell C. King Field – Spartanburg, S.C.
Broadcast: ESPN+ (Friday only)
Series: First meeting between Towson and USC Upstate | First meeting between Towson and Southern Illinois
TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University baseball team opens the 2023 season in Spartanburg, South Carolina for a three-game series against USC Upstate and a standalone game against Southern Illinois at Wofford.
Friday's Towson—USC Upstate game will be broadcast on ESPN+, available via subscription.
Towson will play USC Upstate for the first time ever in its opening weekend series. This is also the first-ever meeting between Towson and Southern Illinois.
DICKERSON PICKS UP PRESEASON HONORS
Outfielder
Elijah Dickerson was selected as a Preseason Honorable Mention All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) by the league's head coaches. Dickerson was named an Honorable Mention All-CAA at the end of last season after batting .262 with 27 runs, 10 doubles, 10 home runs and 42 RBI.
Dickerson was also named to the 2023 Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List, an award based on performance at the plate, academics and personal integrity.
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
The 2023 roster highlights 16 newcomers: eight freshmen and eight transfers. Among notable transfers include power-hitting catcher from Rowan College of South Jersey Gloucester,
John Cristino;
Jeremy Wagner, son of longtime MLB pitcher Billy Wagner; First Team All-MEC utility player
Jack Lawrence; and Kansas transfer
Reyce Curnane.
HOMEGROWN TALENT
The 2023 roster features 14 players that hail from Maryland, including eight returners and six newcomers. Among the six newcomers, three are transfers and three are freshmen.
EARNING STRIPES
New pitching coach
Mike Ruppenthal joins the Towson staff ahead of the 2023 campaign after serving in the same role with Tyler Junior College. Tyler won the 2021 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DIII National Championship and Ruppenthal was subsequently named the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) NJCAA DIII Assistant Coach of the Year.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
USC Upstate was selected to finish second in the Big South Conference, behind only Campbell. Of the 35 wins last season, three came against Power-Five opponents as the Spartans downed Boston College, Ohio State and South Carolina.
Southern Illinois was selected as the preseason favorite in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). Shortstop Kaeber Rog was named MVC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year following the 2022 season.
