Youngstown State University
Valparaiso
Penguins Geared Up for Five Games at Pinnacle PC Invitational
2/15/2024 11:34:00 AM | Softball
2024 Pinnacle PC Invitational
Feb. 16 vs. Valparaiso – 12:15 p.m. | Live Stats
Feb. 16 at Presbyterian – 4:45 p.m. | Live Stats
Feb. 17 vs. Morehead State – 12:15 p.m. | Live Stats
Feb. 17 at Presbyterian – 4:45 p.m. | Live Stats
Feb. 18 vs. Valparaiso - 10 a.m. | Live Stats
The Youngstown State softball team enters week two of the regular season with its second five-game in-season tournament, the Pinnacle PC Invitational, hosted by Presbyterian, Feb. 16-18, in Clinton, S.C.
The Penguins take on Valparaiso on Friday at 12:15 before battling Presbyterian at 4:45 p.m. On Saturday, Youngstown State squares off against Morehead State at 12:15 before facing Presbyterian for the second time at 4:45 p.m. The Penguins close out the tournament against Valparaiso, Sunday, at 10 a.m.
Last Time Out
The Youngstown State softball team opened the season with a 4-1 record at the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldog Classic, Feb. 9-11. The Penguins defeated Delaware, 1-0, East Tennessee State, 6-2 and 7-2, and Gardner-Webb, 3-1, before falling to Delaware, 9-5.
Up Next
After a weekend off the Penguins return to action at the Purple-Gold Invitational hosted by East Carolina, March 1-3, in Greenville, N.C.
Bishop, Howell Sweep Horizon League Weekly Awards
Youngstown State senior Sophie Howell Under Armour #HLSB Pitcher of the Week and sophomore Ashlyn Bishop earned the Player-of-the-Week award, the league announced on Feb. 13.
This is the third career weekly award for Howell and the first career award for Bishop.
Howell, a native of Champion, Ohio, led the Penguins to a 4-1 record during the opening weekend and posted a 2-0 record with a 1.00 earned-run average, two complete games, 10 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .111. Howell threw the first opening day no-hitter in program history in a 1-0 win over Delaware on Feb. 9. She also struck out six against the Blue Hens. She struck out four in a complete-game five hitter in a 7-2 win over East Tennessee State on Feb. 10.
Bishop, a native of Millersville, Md., led the Penguins with a .500 batting average after going 6-for-12 during the opening weekend. Bishop also had a double, two runs scored, two runs batted in, and three stolen bases.
She collected a hit in four of the five games and had a pair of two-hit games (vs. ETSU on Feb. 10 and vs. Delaware on Feb. 11).
Best Starts
Youngstown State went 4-0 to start as season for the first time since 1996 before falling to Delaware, 9-5, on Feb. 11. The last time Youngstown State began the season 5-1 was in 2003 when the Penguins posted a 6-1 mark after seven games.
Historic Howell
Senior Sophie Howell made YSU softball history becoming the first pitcher in program history to throw a no-hitter on opening day. Howell no-hit Delaware on Feb. 9 in a 1-0 victory and posted six strikeouts. She became the seventh pitcher in toss a no-hitter, and she three the ninth no-no in program history.
Don't Mess with Fess
Graduate student Sara Fessler turned in a player-of-the-year caliber season in 2023 for the Penguins and was named All-Horizon League First-Team. She batted .369 with 41 runs scored, 12 doubles, five home runs, 15 stolen bases, 17 runs batted in, a .541 slugging percentage and a .492 on-base percentage. Fessler batted .400 in Horizon League play with four doubles, three home runs, 10 stolen bases, a .586 slugging percentage, 30 walks and a .523 on-base percentage. She also ranked in the top five in 11 statistical categories.
Sophie's Choice
Senior Sophie Howell posted the best season of her career in 2023. Howell was named Second-team All-Horizon League selection and was named to the Horizon League All-Tournament team. She appeared in 39 games and had 200.2 innings pitched while striking out 173 batters. She completed the season with a 2.48 ERA and 17-12 record and added two saves.
Easy E
Senior shortstop Elyssa Imler was an All-Horizon League Second-Team selection in 2023 after batting .300 with six doubles and 14 runs scored against Horizon League foes. Overall, she batted .290 with 26 runs scored, 10 doubles and 19 runs batted in.
Staying 'Tru'ran
Junior Taylor Truran showed tremendous improvement during her sophomore season in 2023. Truran batted .356 with three doubles in Horizon League action. She was also named to the All-Tournament Team after batting .417 with three runs batted in and a .533 on-base percentage.
Howell Climbing Charts
Senior Sophie Howell is climbing the charts in the YSU record book. Howell ranks fourth all-time with 335 career strikeouts and needs 52 more for third place. She needs 65 more whiffs to become just the third pitcher in program history to record at least 400 career strikeouts. Howell has 29 career victories and ranks tied for ninth all-time.
Penguins Picked Fourth in Horizon League
The Youngstown State softball team was predicted to finish fourth in the Horizon League after a vote by the league's head coaches. The Penguins earned 48 points and finished behind Northern Kentucky and Oakland, who were picked tied for first with 75 points, and Robert Morris, who was third. Green Bay earned 43 points to place fifth while IUPUI was sixth with 37 points, Cleveland State was seventh with 32, Purdue Fort Wayne ranked eighth with 21 points and Detroit Mercy was ninth with 10 points.
Place. Team (First Place Votes) – Points
T1. Northern Kentucky (5) – 75
T1. Oakland (4) – 75
3. RMU – 64
4. Youngtown State – 48
5. Green Bay – 43
6. IUPUI – 37
7. Cleveland State – 32
8. Purdue Fort Wayne – 21
9. Detroit Mercy – 10
