Youngstown State University
Niagara
Penguins Host Niagara in Rescheduled Doubleheader Tuesday
4/15/2024 2:14:00 PM | Softball
April 16 vs. Niagara – 12 p.m. | Live Stats
April 16 vs. Niagara – 2 p.m. | Live Stats
The Youngstown State softball team (26-12, 13-2 Horizon League) returns to action with a rescheduled doubleheader against Niagara, Tuesday, April 16. First pitch of the twinbill is set for 12 p.m. at the YSU Softball Field.
Up Next
The Penguins continue its nine-game homestand when it hosts Northern Kentucky in a three-game Horizon League series, April 19-20. First pitch on Friday is set for 3 p.m. First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m. Youngstown State will also celebrate Senior Day prior to Saturday's twinbill.
Last Time Out
The Penguins swept the season series from league foe Robert Morris on April 9-10. Youngstown State knocked off the Colonials, 1-0, 2-0, and 4-1.
About Niagara
Niagara enters the doubleheader with an overall record of 15-16 and own a 9-8 road record. The Purple Eagles are led by Lindsay Mayo with a .373 batting average. Shayna Myshrall has a .304 batting average with seven home runs and 20 RBIs, both team highs. Julia Thompson leads the pitching staff with a 6-1 record and a 3.61 ERA while Maddie Hickingbottom has a team-high eight wins.
The Niagara Series
Youngstown State and Niagara have met 46 times previously and the Penguins own a 36-10 advantage in the all-time series. The Penguins have won the last two contests, and 15 of the last 18 meetings.
Easy E
Senior Elyssa Imler is having the best season of her career at the plate. Imler leads the Penguins with a .362 batting average with seven doubles, a home run, and 13 RBIs. She also has a team-high 11 stolen bases.
Fessler Firin'
Graduate Sara Fessler is posting another outstanding season for the Penguins. Fessler boasts a .333 batting average with seven doubles, a triple, and a team-high seven home runs. Her .604 slugging percentage ranks second in the Horizon League, and she leads the circuit with a 1.068 OPS.
Howell Approaching 50, 500
Senior Sophie Howell has the chance to become just the third pitcher in school history to record 50 wins and 500 strikeouts in a career. Howell currently ranks third all-time with 463 career strikeouts and fifth with 43 wins. The only other pitchers to earn 50 wins with 500 strikeouts were Elle Buffenbarger (2018-22) and Casey Crozier (2011-14).
Fessler, Howell Sweep Weekly Awards
For the third time this season, Youngstown State players swept the Under Armour Horizon League Softball Weekly Awards, the league announced on April 2.
Graduate student Sara Fessler was named the Horizon League Player of the Week while senior Sophie Howell was tabbed the Pitcher of the Week.
This is Fessler's first award this season and the second of her career while Howell has claimed her third award this season and the fifth of her career.
Fessler led the Penguins to a perfect 5-0 record last week, including their third straight Horizon League series sweep. She batted .526 (10-for-19) with eight runs scored, two doubles, four home runs, and six runs batted in. She also posted a slugging percentage of 1.263 and an on-base percentage of .571 for a 1.834 OPS. Fessler recorded three hits in game one against St. Bonaventure and clubbed a two-run home in the nightcap. She has two hits in each game against the Phoenix going 6-for-10 in the series with three home runs, a double, three RBIs, and six runs scored.
Howell posted a record of 3-0 with a save and a 1.42 earned-run average while striking out 31 in 19.2 innings pitched. She tossed 3.2 innings of hitless and scoreless relief with five whiffs in the Penguins 16-5 win over St. Bonaventure. Howell recorded the save in YSU's 7-2 win over the Bonnies with three strikeouts in two innings. Howell fanned 11 in a complete-game win over Green Bay on March 29, and she fired a six-hit complete-game shutout with a career-high 12 strikeouts in the series finale on March 31.
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
