TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University softball team is set for week two of the 2026 softball season which see's the Tigers head back to The Palmetto State for the Purple and White Classic hosted by Furman on Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14.
 
Due to forecasted inclement weather, the tournaments schedule has been reshuffled on Wednesday to have the tournament end Saturday instead of Sunday. This has changed both the opponents and times that Towson will play on Friday and Saturday.
Towson Founder's Classic Schedule:
Friday, Feb. 13:

• Vs. Lipscomb: 11:00 a.m.
• vs. Bowling Green: 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 14:

• vs. Bowling Green: 10 a.m.
• vs. Lipscomb: 12:30 p.m.

 
Scouting the Opponents:
 Lipscomb began its 2026 season with a 2-3 tournament weekend at Southern Miss collecting wins over UAB and Southeast Missouri State. Macyn Kirby batted nine for twelve over the five games and Presley Rader, Josephine Heuberger and Chapel Cunningham each had five hits apiece. On the mound Brooke Beam holds a 2.86 ERA after her first 14.2 innings of work.
 
Bowling Green won both the games it played in the weather shortened 1868 Classic on opening week defeating Queens and Hampton. Seven Falcons recorded multiple hits over the two games and Mackenzie Krafcik and Alyvia Roth both possess ERAs under two heading into this weekend.
 
 
Last Week Highlights:
Winthrop transfer Kinsley Peek was brilliant in her debut weekend for the Tigers. The sophomore started three games in left field and batted 8-10 with four doubles and a homerun while also making a diving catch to seal Towson's first victory of the season against USC Upstate.
Kaci Benton started her sophomore season off hot as well hitting .462 with three doubles and a homerun after making four starts in the outfield.
The Tigers hit seven homeruns overall in their first four games of the season with two coming off the bat of Grace Franczyk and Addie Ferguson, Alyssa Myint, and Isabella Canesi.
The Towson freshmen got involved early with five Tiger rookies making at least one start and four making at least two. Leah Mears and Addison Miller made three starts apiece and each collected their first collegiate hit.
 
The Season Ahead
The Tigers enter head coach Lisa Costello's 31^st season at the helm off a 23-29 record and 11-16 record in the Coastal Athletic Association. Towson was picked to finish third in the North Division in the CAA preseason poll. Top returners include 2025 All-CAA Second Team and 2026 Preseason All-CAA pick Grace Franczyk as well as 2025 CAA All-Rookie member Mackenzie Gorczyca and 2026 CAA Preseason Honorable mention Briyana Wright. The Tigers also return 205.1 innings of pitching in Amanda Medina and Olivia Trombley.
 
Tiger Newcomers:
Towson welcomes twelve new players to the 2026 roster, including ten freshmen and two transfers. Newcomers from the portal are sophomore Kinsley Peek and redshirt-sophomore Jada Wade. Rookie additions include pitchers Mikaela Guy, Chelsey Farthing, and Jessa Pieters; catchers Sara Hopper and Caileigh Mahovetz, infielders Kalissa Coats, Hannah Lebert, Addison Miller and Lexi Best-Arnold and outfielder Leah Mears.
 
Conference Realignment:
2026 sees the CAA conference division split put into effect. Towson, Drexel, Hofstra, Monmouth and Stony Brook make up the North Division while Campbell, Charleston, Elon, Hampton, North Carolina A&T and UNCW are the South Division. North division teams play six conference series against North teams and two against south teams. The top two teams in the standings of each division will automatically qualify for the CAA tournament while the final two spots will be determined by highest conference winning percentage of the remaining teams.