The Youngstown State baseball team is slated to play 56 regular season games across 11 different states from mid-February to late May as part of its 2026 schedule, YSU head coach Trevor Charpie announced on Wednesday.

"This year's schedule is filled with many great and challenging opponents," said Charpie. "We are excited to put ourselves to the test against some of the best competition in the nation. To get where we ultimately want to go, we need to play against the best, and we feel this prepares us for our Horizon League schedule and conference tournament. We look forward to seeing you all out at Eastwood Field this season as we push for a Horizon League championship!"

The Penguins will open the campaign at SEC-member Auburn on Friday, Feb. 13, as part of a three-game series. YSU's home opener is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, while the Horizon League opener is slated for March 13 against Oakland at Eastwood Field.

The Penguins are scheduled to play 24 Horizon League contests, 32 non-conference games and 16 games at Eastwood Field in 2026. Youngstown State will also face opponents from the ACC, B1G and MAC during the non-conference portion of the schedule.

YSU will begin the 2026 campaign with a three-game series at Auburn on Feb. 13-15. The season opener between the Penguins and Tigers on Feb. 13 will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs on the diamond. Youngstown State will also face Oregon for the first time in school history when the Guins visit the Ducks for a four-game series on Feb. 19-22.

The Penguins will travel to Longwood for a four-game series on Feb. 27-March 1. The series opener on Feb. 27 will mark the first meeting between the Guins and Lancers since the lone previous encounter on March 9, 2009. YSU is scheduled to play its first midweek contest of the 2026 season on Tuesday, March 3, at Pitt before a three-game weekend series at Southern Indiana on March 6-8. The series opener on March 6 is set to be the first meeting on the diamond between the Penguins and Eagles.

After playing its first 15 games of the season away from home, Youngstown State is scheduled to host Central Michigan in its 2026 home opener at Eastwood Field on Wednesday, March 11. The home opener will mark the first meeting between the Guins and Chippewas since 2005. The Penguins will host Oakland two days later Friday, March 13, in their Horizon League opener as part of a three-game series.

YSU will begin a seven-game road stretch with another midweek affair at Pitt on March 18 before a three-game non-conference series at Georgetown on March 20-22. The series opener on March 20 is set to be the first-ever meeting between the Penguins and Hoyas. The Guins will venture to Eastern Michigan on March 24 before returning to Horizon League play with a three-game series at Northern Kentucky on 27-29.

Youngstown State will host Akron in non-league action on March 31 before a three-game Horizon League series at Milwaukee on April 2-4. The Penguins begin a four-game home stretch by hosting Pitt on April 7 before welcoming Wright State to Eastwood Field for a three-game league series on April 10-12.

YSU begins a stretch of six consecutive road contests at Akron on April 14, and it will travel to face Central Michigan the following day on April 15. The Penguins are slated to play a three-game Horizon League series at Oakland on April 17-19 before concluding the road stretch at Toledo on April 21. YSU returns home to host Toledo the following day on April 22 before heading to Chicago for a three-game non-conference series at former Horizon League rival UIC on April 24-26. The Guins and Flames will face off for the first time since UIC departed the Horizon League following the 2022 season.

The Guins will begin a season-long seven-game homestand at Eastwood Field with a three-game Horizon League series against Northern Kentucky on May 1-3. YSU will entertain Eastern Michigan in midweek, non-league action on May 6 before hosting Milwaukee for three Horizon League contests on May 8-10.

Youngstown State's final non-conference game of the regular season is scheduled for May 12 at Kent State. The Penguins will close the regular season with a three-game Horizon League series at Wright State on May 14-16.

The 2026 Horizon League Baseball Championship is scheduled for May 20-23 at the site of the No. 1 seed.

All dates and opponents are subject to change, and a complete list of game times will be provided soon. The Horizon League will announce more details on the conference championship in the coming months.

For news and updates leading up to the 2026 season, follow @YSUBaseball on X and Instagram.