TOWSON, Md. – With eight wins in their last ten games, the surging Tigers (16-16, 5-7) will host Old Dominion University (15-15, 7-6) In an important three-game Colonial Athletic Association weekend series at John B. Schuerholz Park. The Tigers and the Monarchs are scheduled to play single games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 1 p.m. Please note that the Friday game time has been changed to 1 p.m. due to the threat of rain.
The Tigers have been very tough at Schuerholz Park this season and have a 12-2 record at home. Improved pitching has been one of the keys to the Tigers? rise in the CAA standings. Towson has a 5.67 E.R.A. as a team, fifth in the CAA.
In fact, three Tigers enter the weekend series ranked among the CAA’s pitching leaders. Junior righthander Austin Hurd leads the CAA with a 2.51 E.R.A. He has a record of 1-0 in 32.1 innings of work with nine walks and 12 strikeouts. Junior righthander Duane Herr is ninth in the CAA with a 3.72 E.R.A. He has a 2-2 record in 36.1 innings of work. In addition, righthander Spencer Patton ranks tenth with a 3.86 E.R.A. Patton is 2-0 on the season.
Offensively, sophomore shortstop Nick Natoli has been the Tigers? leading hitter. He is batting .349 with a .406 on-base percentage. Natoli has scored 26 runs and has stolen 10 bases in 11 tries.
Senior rightfielder Brian Conley has been swinging a hot bat on the current homestand. Conley is hitting .328 with 6 home runs and a team-leading 34 RBI?s. Conley also leads the Tigers with 31 runs scored. He has hit three homers in the last two games and now has 30 roundtrippers for his career. He ranks eighth on Towson’s career list of home run leaders.
Admission is FREE for Towson Baseball games. For Saturday’s game, fans are encouraged to park in the University Union Garage because of a special event on campus. Also, with Friday’s new 1 p.m. start, fans will need to pay to park. Look for the pay kiosk in the lots.
