TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University softball team will play its home opener this weekend at Tiger Softball Stadium as it hosts the DeMarini Tiger Clash. The Tigers will take on Morgan State, Merrimack and Cornell throughout the weekend.
 
Due to forecasted inclement weather, changed have been made to the original DeMarini Tiger Clash Schedule.
 
Towson DeMarini Tiger Clash Schedule
Friday, February 27:

• Vs. Cornell – 12:30 p.m.
• Vs. Morgan State – 3 p.m.

Saturday, February 28:

• Vs. Merrimack – 3 p.m.

Sunday, March 1:

• Vs. Morgan State – 3 p.m.

 
Scouting the Opponents:
The Morgan State Bears are off to an 0-5 start for the 2026 season after finishing the 2025 season 18-29. The Bears had a 12=9 conference record last season and made it as far as the MEAC Tournament Semifinals. Hunter Newman and Olivia Pagano each have multiple extra base hits on the season.
The Merrimack Warriors are 0-5 to begin the new season after ending the 2025 season with a 12-32 overall record and 9-15 MAAC record. Sam Russalesi is the team's leading hitter while Madeline Arvai and Abby Choquette are tied for the team lead in RBIs.
The Cornell Big Red are off to a 2-3 start to the 2026 season with wins over UIC and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Cornell finished the 2025 season 16-22 overall and 6-15 in Ivy league play. Lauren Holt and Charlize Cai each hold batting averages over .450 and Madeline Covelli has a 1.62 ERA through her first 17.1 innings.
 
Last Week Highlights:
The Tigers produced their two best pitching performances so far this season on Friday. First Amanda Medina threw 4.0 one-hit innings in Towson's win over St. Bonaventure.
Olivia Trombley got the start in Towson's 2-0 win over ECU and dominated from start to finish taking a no hitter into extra innings and retiring 18 consecutive batters. The Sophomore ended the night with an 8.0 inning, one-hit complete game shutout.
This was Towson's first win over the Pirates since 2007 and snapped an 11-game losing streak against ECU.
Against St. Bonaventure, Towson put up its highest hit (19) and run (18) total in a single game this season and had its highest scoring single inning with eight runs in the 3^rd.
In 38 total at-bats as a freshman Kaci Benton had eight hits, one triple, one homerun and three RBIs. Through 44 at-bats this season the sophomore has 21 hits, eighth doubles, three homeruns and eleven RBIs.
Benton is currently first in the CAA with 36 total bases, and her eight doubles are fourth in the NCAA.
The Tiger defense has turned eight double-plays in twelve games which leads the CAA and it 15^th in the NCAA.
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 all the remaining teams from both divisions.