TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University softball team will host its second tournament in as many weeks as the Tigers welcome UMass Lowell, Central Connecticut State, and Coppin State to Tiger Softball Stadium for the Towson Tiger Invite from Friday, March 6 until Sunday, March 8.
Towson Tiger Invite Schedule
Friday, March 6:
- Vs. UMass Lowell – 12:30 p.m.
- Vs. Central Connecticut State – 3 p.m.
Saturday, March 7:
- Vs. Central Connecticut State – 3 p.m.
Sunday, March 8:
- Vs. Coppin State – 3 p.m.
Scouting the Opponents:
The UMass Lowell River Hawks are off to a 4-6 start to the 2026 season most recently picking up wins over Northern Colorado and UTSA at the Roadrunner Classic. Julia Rowley is batting .367 through ten games and leads the team in extra base hits.
The Central Connecticut State Blue Devils are 2-3 on the season with wins over Rider and Norfolk State. Grace Lawton is batting .579 to begin her season, Lawton and Ashlyn Desaulniers each have hit a pair of homeruns through five games.
The Coppin State Eagles are 1-3 so far this season with a victory over Alcorn State. Debra Hyde allowed only one earned run in her first start of the season and Aniyah Haley has five RBIs through four games.
Last Week Highlights:
The Tigers went 4-0 in the DeMarini Tiger Clash for their first undefeated weekend since sweeping Drexel in April of last season.
Kaci Benton hit 9-16 with three doubles, two homeruns and nine RBIs while scoring ten runs and stealing three bases. Benton was named the CAA Player of the Week on Tuesday for her performance.
Benton is currently tied for first in the NCAA with 11 doubles and leads the CAA in hits, doubles and total bases.
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.
