Softball Set to Host Norse in Three-Game Series
4/14/2022 12:00:00 AM | Softball
| Youngstown State vs. Northern Kentucky |
|
|---|---|
| Date & Time | Friday, April 15 | 3 p.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Opponent | vs. NKU | Game 1 - Live Stats | Video | Game 2 - Live Stats | Video |
| Date & Time | Saturday, April 16 | 1 p.m. |
| Opponent | vs. NKU | Game 1 - Live Stats | Video |
| Live Tweets | @YSUSoftball | @YSUSports |
| Hash Tags | #GoGuins | #HLSB |
| Mobile App | YSU Front Row |
The First Pitch
• The Youngstown State softball team returns home to host Northern Kentucky in a three-game Horizon League series, April 15-16, at the YSU Softball Field in Youngstown, Ohio.
• First pitch for Friday's doubleheader is slated for 3 p.m. while the start of Saturday's single game is slated for 1 p.m.
Last Time Out
• The Penguins are coming off a doubleheader sweep over St. Bonaventure on April 13.
• Youngstown State defeated the Bonnies, 3-1, in nine innings in game one and 1-0 in the nightcap.
• Yazmine Romero went 3-for-5 with a run scored and a run batted in while Avrey Schumacher had two hits.
• Hailey Niederkohr's single up the middle in the top of the ninth broke the 1-1 tie and she scored the insurance run to up 3-1.
• Elle Buffenbarger struck out 10 to pick up her 14th win.
• Head Coach Brian Campbell earned the 600th win of his career.
• In the nightcap, Romero tied the school record for most hits with 233 and Sophie Howell tossed her first career shutout with six strikeouts.
Up Next
• The Penguins go back on the road to take on league foe Cleveland State, Tuesday, April 19.
• First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
The Northern Kentucky Series
• The Penguins and Norse have met 20 times previously and the Penguins own an 11-9 advantage in the all-time series.
• Last season, Youngstown State and NKU split the four-game season series in Highland Heights, Ky.
SCOUTING NKU
• Northern Kentucky enters the series with an overall record of 16-23 and a 5-10 mark in Horizon League play.
• Kendyl McKeough leads the Norse with a .319 batting average, 10 home runs and 25 runs batted in.
• Madisyn Eads owns a 9-10 record in the circle with a 3.39 ERA and two shutouts.
Home Sweet Home
• Since the Penguins began playing their home games at the YSU Softball Field in 2014 they have found a lot of success in their home ballpark.
• Since 2014, Youngstown State owns a record of 97-55 for a .638 winning percentage in games played at the YSU Softball Field.
• The Penguins have also played well hosting league foes during the same span.
• Youngstown State has a 65-34 mark (.657) Horizon League games played at the YSU Softball Field.
• Youngstown State went 18-4 against league foes in 2021 and had won 14 straight regular-season home league games, dating back to last season, before the losses to IUPUI.
Campbell Nets Career Win 600
• Head Coach Brian Campbell picked up the 600th win of his career after the Penguins' 3-1 win over St. Bonaventure on April 13.
• With the Penguins' 2-1 over Hampton on Feb. 25, Head Coach Brian Campbell picked up his 300th win at Youngstown State and now has 316 with the Penguins.
• Campbell is the school's all-time wins leader and now has 601 for his career.
• He owns a career record of 601-477-2 and a 316-348-1 mark at YSU.
• Over the last five full seasons (2016-19, 2021), the Penguins have averaged 29.4 wins per season.
• Campbell has also been named the Horizon League Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2021.
• During his time, he has coached 34 All-Horizon League picks, four freshmen/newcomers of the year, two pitchers of the year, two players of the year, and seven National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region selections.
Romero Nets 200, Ties All-Time Hits Mark
• Senior Yazmine Romero became the sixth player in school history to collect at least 200 career hits.
• With five hits in a doubleheader sweep of St. Bonaventure, Romero tied the YSU all-time hits record of 233 set by Haley Thomas from 2009-12.
• Her next hit will give her 234 and the program record.
• Romero set the YSU freshman hits record with 66 in 2018.
Buffenbarger Collects 600 Strikeouts
• Fifth-year senior Elle Buffenbarger became Youngstown State's all-time strikeout leader when she broke the record of 565 set by Casey Crozier from 2011-14.
• Buffenbarger now has 672 career strikeouts and became the first player in YSU history and just the seventh player in Horizon League history to record at least 600 career whiffs.
• She needs 28 more become the fifth player in league history with 700 career strikeouts.
Saibene Approaching RBI Record
• Senior Nikki Saibene is nearing the YSU all-time RBI record of 130 set by Sarah Dowd from 2014-17.
• Saibene now ranks third with 127 runs batted in and needs four more to break the record.
• This year, 14 of her 18 runs batted in have come with two outs.
• Last season, Saibene tied the single-season mark of 49 set by Miranda Castiglione in 2016.
If You Can Dodge a Wrench
• Senior Alex DeLeon has a penchant for getting beamed.
• The 2021 second-team All-Horizon League selection has been hit by pitches 17 times this season.
• For her career, DeLeon has been hit 52 times.
• Nikki Saibene has been hit 12 times this season.
• In comparison, Northern Kentucky has been hit a total of 13 times as a team.
Saibene Snapshot
• Ranks third all-time with 127 career runs batted in.
• Ranks fourth in school history with 27 career home runs and needs 11 more to break the school record of 37.
• Named NFCA Midwest All-Region First-Team 2021.
• 2021 All-Horizon League First-Team
Buffenbarger at a Glance
• YSU's career strikeout leader with 672.
• Ranks second all-time with 56 career wins.
• 2021 Horizon League Pitcher of the Year and All-Horizon League First-Team.
• 2021 NFCA Midwest All-Region Third-Team.
• Only pitcher in school history to posted 20 wins with at least 200 (212) strikeouts in season.
• Led the Horizon League in wins, strikeouts, opponents' batting average, shutouts, and starts, was second with 19 complete games, and fourth in ERA.
• Had nine games with at least 10 strikeouts.
• Her 20 wins and 212 strikeouts both rank second on the YSU single-season list.
Turner Turning It Up
• Junior Megan Turner, a 2021 All-Mid-American Conference Second-Team selection, joined the Penguins program in the fall of 2021 and has two years of eligibility with the Penguins.
• She currently owns a .290 batting average and tied a career-high with four hits against St. Bonaventure on April 13.
• He leads the team with nine doubles and a .530 slugging percentage and is tied for the team lead with five home runs.
Romero, Buffenbarger Lead League
• Seniors Yazmine Romero and Elle Buffenbarger are at or near the top the league a few statistical categories.
• Romero leads the league with a .403 average and 54 hits and ranks second in the league with 24 runs scored.
• Buffenbarger leads the circuit with 14 wins and 152 strikeouts and is third with a 2.73 ERA.
Players Mentioned
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