Youngstown, Ohio – The Youngstown State softball team revealed its 56-game 2026 schedule that includes four in-season tournaments, Head Coach Brian Campbell announced.

The Penguins open the season against Tarleton State, Friday, Feb. 6, at the Gardner-Webb Tournament, Feb. 6-8, in Boiling Springs, N.C. Youngstown State's 2026 home opener is set for Wednesday, March 18, with a doubleheader against Saint Francis (Pa.), and the Horizon League opener is slated from Friday, March 20, against Detroit Mercy.

Youngstown State will play 17 home games at the YSU Softball Field in the Covelli Sports Complex including 12 Horizon League in Youngstown.

The Penguins will play their first 22 games of the year away from home beginning with the five-game Gardner-Webb Tournament. After facing Tarleton State, the Penguins will face Gardner-Webb on Feb. 6, Furman and Gardner-Webb on Feb. 7, and close out the tournament against Tarleton State on Feb. 8.

Youngstown State heads to the Palmetto State for a four-game tournament at USC Upstate, Feb. 13-14. The Penguins will face West Georgia and USC Upstate on both days.

After a week off, Youngstown State plays in five-game tournament at Longwood, Va., Feb.27-March 1, in Farmville, Va. The Penguins will take on Penn and Longwood on Feb. 27, Mt. St. Mary's and Hampton on Feb. 28, and Penn on March 1.

The Penguins will stay Virginia for a doubleheader against Hampton on March 3 and a single game against Longwood on March 5 before a second tournament at Longwood, March 6-7. YSU will face Le Moyne and Longwood on both days.

Youngstown State's first game after spring break is a single game against ACC-member Pittsburgh on Tuesday, March 17, in Pittsburgh, Pa.

The Penguins home slate includes the doubleheader against Saint Francis (Pa.), the three-game series against the Titans, a three-game Horizon League series against Northern Kentucky, March 27-28, non-league doubleheaders against Bowling Green, April 1, Niagara, April 7, St. Bonaventure, April 8, and Mercyhurst, April 14.

Youngstown State closes out the home portion of the schedule with a three-game Horizon League series against Green Bay, April 17-18.

The Penguins' Horizon League road series are at Robert Morris, April 3-4, at IU Indy, April 24-25, and the regular-series finale at Oakland, May 2-3.

Youngstown State's non-league away doubleheaders include at St. Bonaventure, March 24, at Mercyhurst, March 31, and at Kent State, April 21.

The Horizon League Championship is set for May 6-9.