Preview: Monmouth Hawks at Towson Tigers

TOWSON, Md. (Interstat) — The Towson Tigers look to continue their winning momentum when they host the struggling Monmouth Hawks in a Colonial Athletic Association series opener Friday afternoon at John B. Schuerholz Baseball Complex.

First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. EDT under a forecast of 57-degree temperatures and rain.

The Tigers (5-4) enter having won two of their last three, including a 16-7 rout of Canisius on Sunday. Towson’s bullpen has been a strength, highlighted by reliever Jacob Whiteman. The right-hander has been effective in his last two outings, allowing just one hit over 5 2/3 combined innings with five strikeouts.

Monmouth (2-7) seeks to build on its lone bright spot of the young season: a 13-0 shutout of UMBC on Sunday. That victory snapped a seven-game skid. The Hawks will rely on starter Tommy Kent, who was dominant in that win, throwing six hitless innings with 10 strikeouts. However, Kent was tagged for four earned runs in just three innings in his previous start at Stetson.

Offensively, Monmouth’s Robert Kelly and Simmi Whitehill each homered and combined for seven RBIs in the UMBC win. Towson’s offense, which exploded for 16 runs Sunday, was led by Nick LoBello, who went 3 for 4 with two RBIs.

The series marks the start of CAA play for both teams. According to Interstat’s game simulator, Towson is projected to win Friday’s contest 5-2.

The teams are scheduled to continue the three-game series Saturday and Sunday in Towson.