The Field: Towson Tigers (0-0), Loyola Chicago (0-0), Toledo (0-0), USC Upstate (0-0), South Carolina State (0-0)
When: Friday-Sunday, February 9-11
Where: Cyrill Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.
Broadcast: Live stats available at TowsonTigers.com
Series History: Loyola Chicago, Toledo & South Carolina State (First Meeting), USC Upstate leads 4-0
 
TOWSON, Md. – Towson softball enters the 2024 season looking to build off a strong 2023 campaign that saw the Tigers reach 30 wins, the only Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) team to reach 30 during the season. The Tigers made an appearance in the CAA championship game after going through the winner's bracket as the five seed.
 
The Tigers return almost the entire lineup from 2023 with Briana Ramirez and Emma Armstrong as the lone players departing who saw playing time last season. Towson brings in seven new players including Creighton transfer Alyssa Bostley who helps bolster the pitching staff.
 
The 2024 campaign gets underway on Friday, Feb. 9 with the Tigers heading to Spartanburg, S.C. to take part in the USC Upstate Spartan Classic. The Tigers take on Loyola Chicago and Toledo as well as South Carolina State and host USC Upstate.
 
Head coach Lisa Costello is set to begin her 29^th season at the helm of the Tigers in 2024 with a career record of 786-686-3 during her tenure in Towson. Costello led the Tigers to their sixth championship game appearance under her guidance and is 31^st among active Division I head coaches in wins.
 
WELCOME TO TOWSON:
Seven newcomers will don the black and gold for the 2024 season with six freshmen and one transfer joining the Tigers. Junior pitcher Alyssa Bostley comes to Towson after spending two seasons at Creighton. The Wisconsin native appeared in eight games for the Blue Jays, throwing 17.2 innings with eight strikeouts.
 
Six freshmen will start their careers with the Tigers this season. New Jersey natives Amanda Medina and Macie Jacquet, Pennsylvania natives Brooke Zuber and Sequoia Dunlap and Maryland natives Faith McCullough and Taylor Broadbent will make their collegiate debuts in 2024.
 
IN THE CIRCLE:
Towson brings back Maddie Gardner who led the team in every pitching category in 2023. The Wisconsin native threw 168.2 innings with a 16-8 record, 18 complete games, three shutouts and two saves. She struck out 137 batters with a 3.47 ERA. The Tigers also return Cheyenne Beayon, who played a key role in the Tigers run to the title game after throwing a complete game against top seeded Delaware. Beayon ended 2023 with a 5-7 record in 97.1 innings with 28 strikeouts and seven complete games.
 
Erin Brown and Morgan Wagner return for the Tigers. Brown comes back after an injury ended her season after 10 appearances and seven starts. Wagner returned from injury in 2023 and made 14 appearances, throwing 40.0 innings.
 
Transfer Alyssa Bostley will help bolster the pitching staff after transferring to Towson from Creighton. Bostley made eight appearances with the Blue Jays, throwing 17.2 innings with eight strikeouts.
 
SCOUTING THE INFIELD:
The Tigers will return their entire starting infield from a year ago with seniors Mackenzie Lake and Ally Hickman manning the left side of the infield at shortstop and third base respectively. Lake was the team's best offensive player a year ago batting .383 with 69 hits, nine doubles, five triples, six home runs and 38 RBIs. Lake earned All-CAA First Team honors last season. Hickman hit .239 with 28 hits, seven doubles and 17 runs batted in.
 
Classmate Cori Jones started every game at second base last season and will return for her senior campaign. Jones hit .305 with 53 hits and nine doubles. Kristin Toland took over every day first base duties last year midway through her first playing season after redshirting in 2022. Toland hit .232 with 22 hits, three doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs. For her efforts, Toland was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team.
 
Sophomore Addie Ferguson returns after seeing time behind the plate. Ferguson recorded 22 hits with five doubles, three home runs and 17 RBIs in her first season with the Tigers. Ferguson earned All-CAA First Team honors while also being named to the All-Rookie Team.
 
OUTFIELD LEADERS:
Two of the three starting outfielders from a year ago are back for Towson with junior Elizabeth Yoskowitz and sophomore Cara Bohner returning on the corners. Yoskowitz started 45 of the 52 games she played, collecting 25 hits with a triple and six stolen bases, batting .243. She made a game saving grab in the seventh inning to push Towson into the championship game last year. Bohner batted .280 in 46 games with 33 hits, eight doubles, two home runs and 26 RBIs, earning CAA All-Rookie Team honors.
 
Towson also returns Isabella Canesi, who made 42 appearances and nine starts during her rookie campaign in 2023. Canesi had three hits including a big home run in the conference tournament against Elon to help propel the Tigers through the winner's bracket.
 
FACTS AND FIGURES:
Towson will return all but two players from last year's team with only one being a regular starter in All-CAA outfielder Briana Ramirez. 81 percent of the team's hits and 89 percent of the team's run production returns for the 2024 season.
 
Head coach Lisa Costello can also reach a milestone in 2024. Costello is just 16 wins away from 800 for her career. The Tiger head coach is 31^st amongst active head coaches in Division I in wins.
 
2024 SCHEDULE:
Towson opens the 2024 campaign down in Spartanburg, S.C. at the Spartan Classic hosted by USC Upstate. The Tigers open on February 9^th against Loyola Chicago and Toledo while also played South Carolina State and host USC Upstate. After spending the first three weekends in the Carolinas, Towson will make its home debut against Coppin State on Wednesday, Feb. 28 before hosting the TU DeMarini Invite Feb. 29-Mar. 3.
 
The Tigers open CAA play the following weekend with a home series against Hofstra in a rematch of the 2023 CAA championship. The 2024 CAA Championship will take place May 8-11 down at UNCW in Wilmington, N.C. The top six teams will qualify for the tournament with the top two seeds getting first round byes.
 
ON DECK: 
The Tigers return to action next weekend, February 16-18 at the Furman Invitational, hosted by Furman University. The Tigers will face Lipscomb, IUPUI, Georgetown and host Furman over the course of the weekend.