Youngstown State University
Robert Morris
Big Week on Tap as Penguins Host RMU, Visit IUPUI
4/10/2023 1:30:00 PM | Softball
| YOUNGSTOWN STATE vs. Robert Morris, at IUPIUI | |
|---|---|
| Games 1-2 | Tuesday, April 11 | 3 p.m. & 5 p.m. ET |
| Opponent | DH vs. Robert Morris | Live Stats | Watch: Game 1 | Game 2 |
| Games 3 | Wednesday, April 12 | 3 p.m. |
| Opponent | vs. Robert Morris | Live Stats | Watch |
| Game 4 | Friday, April 14 | 3 p.m. ET |
| Opponent | at IUPUI | Live Stats |
| Game 5-6 | Saturday, April 15 | 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. ET |
| Opponent | DH at IUPUI | Live Stats |
| Live Tweets | @YSUSoftball | @YSUSports |
| Hashtags | #GoGuins | #HLSB |
| Mobile App | iOS Download | Android Download |
First Pitch
The Youngstown State softball team is geared up for a big week of Horizon League action with six league games on tap as the Penguins host Robert Morris and visit IUPUI. Youngstown State hosts Robert Morris in a three-game series, April 11-12, and visits IUPUI for a three-game series, April 14 and 15.
First pitch against the Colonials is set for 3 p.m. on both days while first pitch against the Jaguars on Friday is set for 3 p.m. and at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
Last Time Out
Youngstown State extended its winning streak to three games after sweeping Niagara, 2-1, 4-2, on April 6 at the YSU Softball Field.
Up Next
Youngstown State faces Big Ten opponent Ohio State in a single game on Tuesday, April 18, at 6 p.m. before returning home to host Niagara in a doubleheader Wednesday, April 19. The Penguins also visit Green Bay for a three-game Horizon League series, April 21-22, in Green Bay, Wis.
About Robert Morris
Robert Morris enters the game with an overall record of 15-15 and is tied for second in the Horizon League with YSU with a 5-2 mark. Charlotte Grover leads the Colonials with a .274 batting average while Dana Vatakis has five wins and a team-best 2.55 earned-run average. Madison DeVault leads the team with six wins.
About IUPUI
IUPUI enters the week with an overall record of 9-21 and a Horizon League mark of 5-5. Jaida Speth leads the Jaguars with a .380 batting average while Kennedy Cowan is batting .349 with a team-best four home runs and 11 RBIs. Madison Bryant leads the pitching staff with a 3.33 ERA and has three wins.
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. Youngstown State is 112-61 in 173 games in its on-campus facility for a .647 winning percentage. YSU secured its 100th victory at the complex with a 5-2 victory over Green Bay on April 23, 2022.
- The Penguins, who are 8-2 at home in 2023, have reached double digits in wins in seven of the eight seasons that they've played at the YSU Softball Complex (no home games were played in 2020). YSU's best season at home came in 2021 when it went 23-8 for a .742 winning percentage. The Penguins have had a winning record in seven of their eight seasons playing on campus.
- Youngstown State was 15-8 at the YSU Softball Complex in 2022, including 11-4 against Horizon League opponents during the regular season. This season, YSU is 3-1 against league foes at the YSU Softball Complex.
- The Penguins have earned a victory on each Opening Day at the YSU Softball Complex since 2014. YSU is 5-3 in their first home games since 2014, but it bounced back to split doubleheaders on the three instances in which it dropped the opener.
- Youngstown State has a 74-36 mark (.673) in Horizon League regular-season games played at the YSU Softball Field. The Penguins are 31-10 in conference regular-season contests played on their turf over the last two-plus seasons.
Howell Climbing K's Chart
- Junior Sophie Howell is quickly climbing the Youngstown State all-time strikeout chart.
- She currently ranks eighth with 253 career strikeouts and needs 47 more to become the eighth pitcher in program history to record at least 300 career strikeouts.
- Howell has a career-best 101 strikeouts this season, which ranks second in the Horizon League.
Bats Come Alive in League Play
- Youngstown State's offensive production has certainly increased during Horizon League play.
- The Penguins are batting an impressive .327 with 15 doubles, eight home runs, and 36 runs batted in against league foes.
- Sara Fessler, Megan Turner, and Taylor Truran are all batting .500 against the league.
- Turner has five home runs with 11 RBIs, a 1.389 slugging percentage, and an OPS of 1.913 in league contests.
Fessler Feasting
- Youngstown State junior Sara Fessler has had quite an first season with the Penguins.
- Fessler leads the Horizon League with a .391 batting average, 36 hits, and 25 runs scored.
- She is also second in the circuit with nine doubles, a .509 on-base percentage, and a 1.031 OPS.
Rinaldi, Turner Lead League
- Seniors Conchetta Rinaldi and Megan Turner both lead the Horizon League in a statistical cateorgy.
- Rinaldi leads the league with 22 RBIs while Turner is the circuit's top home run hitter with five.
Saving Private Ryan
- Junior Devan Ryan has been impressive in the circle during her first season with the Penguins.
- Ryan is tied for the team lead with seven wins and has a team-best 1.84 earned-run average.
- She also ranks second in the Horizon League in ERA and is teid for second in victories.
Howell, Turner Sweep Horizon League Weekly Awards
- Junior Sophie Howell and senior Megan Turner were named the Horizon League Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively, on March 28.
- That week, the Penguins went 6-1 overall and 4-1 in Horizon League play thanks in part to the duo. Howell went 3-0 with a 1.54 earned-run average, 23 strikeouts in 22.2 innings pitched. She also fired three complete games. Turner batted .471 (8-for-17) with six runs scored, two doubles, five home runs and 11 RBIs. She also slugged 1.471 and had an OBP of .500.
Penguins Picked Fifth
Youngstown State was predicted to finish fifth in the Horizon League after a preseason vote of the league's head coaches. The Penguins, who received 50 points, are coming off their second straight 30-win campaign after going 32-24 overall and 17-9 in the Horizon League.
Oakland earned 77 points and eight first-place votes to earn the top spot in voting done by the League's head coaches while Robert Morris (68 points) was voted second in the poll. Cleveland State (61) and Green Bay (51) were picked ahead of YSU (50), and Northern Kentucky (43), IUPUI (22), Purdue Fort Wayne (20) and Detroit Mercy (13) rounded out the poll.
