The Games: Towson (0-0) vs. Ball State (0-0)
                    Towson (0-0) vs. UAB (0-0)
                    Towson vs. UMass Lowell (0-0)
When:          Friday, Feb. 14 vs. Ball State – 11 a.m.
                    Saturday, Feb. 15 vs. UAB – 4 p.m.
                    Sunday, Feb. 16 vs. UMass Lowell – 11 a.m.
Where:         Shipyard Park – Charleston, S.C.
Broadcast:   HiCast
Live Stats:   TowsonTigers.com
 
TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University baseball team begins its season in Charleston, S.C. to face Ball State, UAB and UMass Lowell in the 2025 Swig & Swine College Classic.
 
This will be the Tigers' second matchup vs. each opponent. The Tigers beat Ball State 5-4 on Feb. 24, 2006. Towson last faced UAB more than 30 years ago on March 22, 1992, topping the Blazers 11-3 in Birmingham, Alabama. The Black & Gold are 0-1 all-time against UMass Lowell, falling to the River Hawks 10-8 on March 17. 2017.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Ball State enters the season as D1 Baseball's Mid-American Conference (MAC) preseason pick, but the league is very much wide open in the race for the top spot.
 
UAB was picked to finish eighth in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Preseason Poll. They boast AAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year Colin Daniel, a unanimous all-conference selection.
 
UMass Lowell was picked to finish fifth in the America East (AE) Preseason Poll. The River Hawks feature two preseason all-conference selections in outfielder Alex Luccini and starting pitcher Michael Simes.
 
PEYTON, BISHOP & ROBINSON COLLECT PRESEASON ALL-CAA HONORS
Infielders Jordan Peyton, Casey Bishop and Taye Robinson have each earned 2025 Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) preseason praise, announced by the league office.
 
Jordan Peyton was named to the 2025 All-CAA Preseason Team after batting .336 with 40 runs scored and a team-leading 41 RBI's last year. The 2024 All-CAA Honorable Mention finished the season with multiple hits in 11 of his final 13 games, batting .545 (30-for-55) with 13 runs scored, five home runs and 18 RBI's during that stretch.
 
Bishop earned preseason honorable mention recognition for the second-straight season after earning a 2023 CAA All-Rookie Team nod. He batted .216 with 12 runs scored, six RBI's and two stolen bases in 25 games played after missing more than half the season due to injury.
 
Robinson was tabbed a preseason honorable mention after a 2024 CAA All-Rookie Team selection. The Gaithersburg, Maryland native hit .310 with 26 runs scored, 28 RBI's and seven stolen bases in 51 games played. He closed the season on a seven-game hitting streak with multiple hits in 14 games during the campaign.
 
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
The 2025 Towson roster consists of 18 newcomers: 13 transfers and 5 freshmen. New Tigers that are set for prominent roles this season include Rowan College of South Jersey transfer Max D'Alessandro, Hood transfer Dutch DeProspero, County College of Morris transfer Jonathan Rosario and freshman Nich Francuzenko, among others.
 
HOMEGROWN TALENT
The 2025 Tigers' roster features 17 players from the Free State, including seven newcomers. Highlighting the newcomer group is High Point transfer Brett Ahalt, James Madison transfer Matt Leikus and Radford transfer Leo Simpson, the brother of Tiger pitcher Max Simpson, among others.
 
EARNING STRIPES
The Tigers have welcomed multiple coaches to the staff ahead of the 2025 season. J.D. Pulfer, who formerly served as a volunteer assistant for two seasons, returns in a full-time role after his most recent stint as an assistant coach for Eastern Illinois. Pulfer was a three-year starter with the Oregon Ducks, where he has the sixth-most hits in program history and was drafted in the 19th round of the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Assistant Coach Joel Aviña most recently coached Towson infielder Jordan Peyton for the Bristol Blues in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) over the summer, helping Peyton win the league's Defensive Player of the Year award. Prior to that stint, Aviña served as an assistant at Post University for three seasons, where he led the Eagles to a .974 fielding percentage in 2024, the 16th best mark in Division II. Former Tiger pitcher Justin Rebok, who stands eighth all-time in program history in career appearances, joins the staff as the Director of Pitching Development. Third year Tiger pitching coach Mike Ruppenthal was also elevated to associate head coach.
 
TIGERS IN THE PROS
In July 2023, former Tiger right-handed pitcher Ethan Pecko was picked in the sixth round (194) of the MLB draft as the 19th Towson player in program history to be selected. In 2024, he ascended to AA Corpus Christi and was named the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year following the season. Former infielder Richie Palacios, a third-round pick in 2018, had previous MLB stints with Cleveland and St. Louis before being traded to Tampa Bay prior to the 2024 season. Palacios has found a home in Tampa Bay, playing 92 games last season after being an Opening Day starter for the Rays.
 
RUNS IN THE FAMILY
The Tigers have strong familial connections to professional sports, starting with pitcher Nate Nabholz, whose uncle Chris Nabholz was the second Towson baseball player drafted in program history. Nabholz started 100 games in the Majors after being selected in the second round of the 1988 draft by the Montreal Expos. Redshirt freshman pitcher Joey Zito is the nephew of Cy Young award-winning pitcher Barry Zito. Newcomer Jace Cunnane is the son of eight-year MLB pitcher Will Cunnane. Infielder Casey Bishop's father was the strength and conditioning coach for the Baltimore Orioles for 14 years. Outside of baseball, Jordan Peyton is the cousin of former Towson football player and Super Bowl winner Jermon Bushrod. Infielder Taye Robinson is the cousin of current Miami Dolphin Chop Robinson.
 
2024 RECAP
The Tigers finished the 2024 season at 15-39 overall and 5-20 in CAA play. The Tiges had two Honorable Mention All-CAA selections in outfielder Elijah Dickerson and infielder Jordan Peyton. Redshirt freshman Taye Robinson was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team. The Tigers' 369 strikeouts are the seventh most in program history, while their 11 saves are fifth most.