Youngstown State University
Niagara
Penguins Host Niagara, Visit Bowling Green This Week
3/24/2025 1:27:00 PM | Softball
The First Pitch
The Youngstown State softball team plays a pair of midweek non-conference doubleheaders when it hosts Niagara Tuesday, March 25, and visits Bowling Green on Wednesday, March 26.
At-Bat
First pitch against the Purple Eagles is set for 3 p.m. at the YSU Softball Complex while the twinbill against the Falcons is slated for a 2 p.m. start.
Up Next
Youngstown State is idle this weekend then begins an eight-game homestand with a non-conference doubleheader against Mercyhurst, Tuesday, April 1. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 3 p.m. at the YSU Softball Complex.
About Niagara
Niagara enters the doubleheader with an overall record of 2-10 and have lost its last nine games. The Purple Eagles, who are coming off two losses at Syracuse, 7-6, and 15-0, on March 19, are led by Jolyn Gibbons with a .353 batting average. Shayna Marshall boasts a batting average of .350.
About Bowling Green
Bowling Green enters the twinbill with an overall mark of 10-18 and have a 4-1 mark at home. The Falcons are coming off a sweep of Kent State last weekend, defeating the Golden Flashes, 10-2, 7-6, 9-7. Leading Bowling Green is Taylor Behrendt with a .363 batting average while Hannah Hunt boasts a .352 average. Addie Martin leads the team with 10 home runs and has a .348 batting average. Mackenzie Krafcik leads the Falcons with a 5-3 record and owns a 3.60 earned run average, while Scarlet Anderson has a team-best 3.13 ERA and a 3-2 mark.
Campbell Nearing Milestones
Head Coach Brian Campbell is in his 17th season at Youngstown State and his 25th as a college head coach. Campbell owns a career record of 680-552-2 and a 395-423-1 mark at Youngstown State. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Campbell needs 20 more wins to reach 700 for his career and five more to reach 400 at Youngstown State.
Ogin Fires Another Gem, Records Strikeout Career High
Freshman Kelsey Ogin fired another gem picking up her second win of the season and the Penguins' first Horizon League victory with a 2-1 defeat on Detroit Mercy on March 22. Ogin struck out a career-high nine batters in the complete-game five hitter against the Titans. Over her last 12.2 innings pitched, Ogin has allowed just eight hits, two runs, one earned run, and posted 11 strikeouts.
Wilkerson Staying Hot
Wilkerson continues to swing a hot bat at the plate for the Penguins. She leads the team with a .348 batting average, 14 runs scored, three home runs and 17 runs batted in. Wilkerson owns a six-game hitting streak and owns a .409 batting average (9-for-22) over that span.
Littler Still Lit
Sophomore Macy Littler continued staying hot from year one to year two. Littler is second on the team with a .313 batting average and 12 runs scored this season. Littler also has the team's only triple. Littler is also batting .381 in Horizon League play.
Ray Clobbers First Career Homer
Freshman Ayla Ray belted her first career home run over the weekend at Detroit Mercy. Ray is also batting .333 in league play and boasts an overall average of .299.
Behlke Named Pitcher of the Week
Youngstown State sophomore Autumn Behlke has been named the Horizon League Pitcher of the Week, the conference announced on March 3. This is the first weekly award of Behlke's career. Behlke went 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA last week while striking out 11 batters. she fired a complete game four-hitter with seven strikeouts in a win over St. Bonaventure on Feb. 28. She also picked up the win against Southern Indiana on March 2.
Imler Looking to Continue High-Level Play
Fifth-year senior Elyssa Imler was named the 2024 Horizon League Player of the Year, All-Horizon League First-Team, and led the Penguins with a .340 batting average with 36 runs scored, 51 hits, 21 RBIs, 10 doubles and a home run. She stole 14 bases. Imler also hit .444 with 16 runs, 32 hits five doubles, a home run, and 15 RBIs against Horizon League foes.
Wilkerson Posted Solid Frosh Campaign
Sophomore Lydia Wilkerson was named All-Horizon League Second Team and All-Freshman Team last season. She batted .331 with 19 runs, nine doubles, two home runs and 17 runs batted. Wilkerson also slugged .422 with an on-base percentage of .389. She led the team with 55 hits and recorded 14 multi-hit games…Wilkerson batted. 377 against Horizon League opponents with four doubles and two homers.
What Returns
The Penguins return15 letterwinners and five starters from last year's squad that tied the school record for wins with an overall record of 36-17. The Penguins also won their second regular-season championship with a Horizon League record of 15-5 in 2024.
Penguins Welcome Several Newcomers
Along with 15 returning letterwinners, the Penguins welcome six new players to the 2025 squad. Joining the Penguins this season are Alivia Boothe, Autumn Boyd, Kami Diaz, Bella Meyer, Kelsey Ogin, and Ayla Ray.
