Youngstown State University
Akron
Softball Visits Akron Today, Hosts Niagara Thursday
4/5/2023 9:25:00 AM | Softball
| YOUNGSTOWN STATE at Akron, vs. Niagara | |
|---|---|
| Games 1-2 | Wednesday, April 5 | 3 p.m. & 5 p.m. ET |
| Opponent | DH at Akron | Live Stats |
| Games 3-4 | Thursday, April 6 | 2 p.m. & 4 p.m. ET |
| Opponent | vs. Niagara | Live Stats |
| Live Tweets | @YSUSoftball | @YSUSports |
| Hashtags | #GoGuins | #HLSB |
| Mobile App | iOS Download | Android Download |
First Pitch
The Youngstown State softball team returns to action with a pair of non-league doubleheaders against Akron, Wednesday, April 5, and hosting Niagara, Thursday, April 6. First pitch against the Zips is at 3 p.m. while the start of the Niagara doubleheader is set for 2 p.m.
Last Time Out
Yougnstown State went 2-2 last week after splitting doubleheaders against St. Bonaventure and a.Horizon League foe Oakland
Up Next
Youngstown State a weekend off before returning home to host Robert Morris, April 11-12. First pitch on Tuesday is set for 3 p.m.
About Akron
The Zips enter the game with an overall record of 17-14. Leading Akron is Brooke Sivek with a .345 batting average while Alexis Campbell has a .324 average and a team-high 21 runs batted in. Haley Croyle leads the staff with an 8-5 record and a 2.04 ERA.
About Niagara
The Purple Eagles enter the twinbill with an overall record of 2-19. Lindsay Mayo leads the team with a .347 batting average.
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 110-61 in 171 games in its on-campus facility for a .643 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 6-2 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.
- 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, 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.
- Last 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.
League Leaders
- Youngstown State has the Horizon League's top hitter, home run slugger, wins leader, and top RBI producer.
- Megan Turner leads the league with five home runs while Sophie Howell leads the league with seven wins, and Conchetta Rinaldi has a league-best 22 runs batted in.
- Junior Sara Fessler now leads the league with .414 batting average and 36 hits.
- Howell is second in the league with 95 strikeouts
Fessler, Howell Sweep Horizon League Weekly Awards
- Juniors Sara Fessler and Sophie Howell were named the Horizon League Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, on March 8.
- Over six games where the Penguins posted a 4-2 record, Fessler batted .438 (7-for-16) with seven runs scored, three doubles and three runs batted in. Howell went 3-0 with a 0.70 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 20 innings. Highlighting her week, Howell tied a career high with 11 strikeouts in a 7-2 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
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.
