TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University softball team is set to begin the 2026 season at the Founder's Classic hosted by the University of South Carolina Upstate. The Tigers will play two games each on Friday, February 6 and Saturday, February 7.
Towson Founder's Classic Schedule:
Friday, Feb. 6:
- Vs. Ohio: 12:30 p.m.
- vs. USC Upstate: 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 7:
- vs. Ohio: 10 a.m.
- vs. Saint Francis: 12:30 p.m.
Scouting the Opponents:
The University of Ohio ended the 2025 regular season with a 37-19 record and entered the Mid-American Conference Tournament a two-seed after going 18-8 in conference play. The Bobcats fell to the top seed Miami in the MAC Championship game. Ohio returns 2025 MAC Pitcher of the Year Skipp Miller and 2025 All-MAC First Team selection Brenna Farmer.
USC Upstate are the reigning Big South Champions for the second consecutive season after going 39-16 in the 2025 season. The Spartans defeated Winthrop in the Big South Championship before seeing the season end at the NCAA Clemson Regional. Upstate features Big South Preseason Player of the Year Taliyah Thomas and 2025 Big South Tournament MVP Maddie Drerup.
Saint Francis enters the 2026 season after winning its seventh Northeast Conference Championship in eight years last season. The Red Flash defeated LIU in the championship game before exiting the NCAA Tournament at the Texas A&M Regional. Top returners include All-NEC Second Team selection Annabelle Farmer and NEC All-Rookie member Sofia Zielinski.
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 in 2025. 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.
CAA Schedule Shift:
2026 sees the CAA softball conference split into two divisions. 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.
