Youngstown State University
Mercyhurst
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Penguins Begin Eight-Game Homestand Tuesday Against Mercyhurst
3/31/2025 1:34:00 PM | Softball
The First Pitch
The Youngstown State softball team (7-26, 1-5 Horizon League) begins an eight-game homestand this week with a midweek non-conference doubleheader and a three-game Horizon League series over the weekend at the Covelli Sports Complex.
At-Bat
The Penguins host Mercyhurst Tuesday, April 1 in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. Youngstown State hosts league for Purdue Fort Wayne in a three-game series on Friday and Saturday. First pitch of Friday's single game is set for 3 p.m. while Saturday's twinbill has a 1 p.m. start.
Up Next
Youngstown State concludes its eight-game homestand when it welcomes Horizon League foe Robert Morris for a three-game series, April 8-9, at the Covelli Sports Complex.
About Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst enters the doubleheader with an overall record of 2-19 and posts a 0-12 record on the road. Mackenzie Gillis leads the Lakers with a .283 batting average with four doubles and two home runs.
About Purdue Fort Wayne
Purdue Fort Wayne enters the week with an overall record of 8-16 and a 4-2 mark in Horizon League play. The Mastodons have won their last three games after picking up a Horizon League sweep of Detroit Mercy on March 27-28. Leading the Mastodons is Grace Hollopeter with a .403 batting average, six home runs and 27 RBIs. Alanah Jones leads the staff with a record of 6-9 with a 4.31 earned-run average.
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 682-554-2 and a 397-425-1 mark at Youngstown State. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Campbell needs 18 more wins to reach 700 for his career and three more to reach 400 at Youngstown State.
Guins Last 10
Over the last 10 games, Youngstown State has been a tough out at the plate. As a team, the Penguins hit .338 with 54 runs scored, 14 doubles and six home runs. Lydia Wilkerson batted .514 over that span with 10 runs, a home run and five runs batted in Macy Littler and Elyssa Imler each batted .324. Kennedy Dean hit .303 with five doubles and 10 RBIs.
Wilkerson Among League Leaders
Sophomore Lydia Wilkerson is having one of the best all-around seasons in the Horizon League. She leads the league with 42 hits, ranks second with a .393 batting average, tied for third with 54 total bases, ninth with 18 RBIs and 10th with three home runs.
Dean of the League
Junior Kennedy Dean posted a monster week for the Penguins last week. The Winfield, W.Va. native batted .500 (7-for-14) with three doubles, five runs scored, a home run, eight RBIs, and a slugging percentage of .928. Dean posted a monster day against Niagara with 5-for-8 in the doubleheader with two doubles, a home run and seven runs batted in. In game two, she went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a double, home run and six runs batted in. Dean also had two doubles in the opener against the Purple Eagles. Dean became just the eighth YSU player to record at least six RBIs in a game.
Diaz Makes Big Impression
Freshman Kami Diaz recorded her best week as a Penguin last week. Diaz batted. 500 (6-for-12) with two doubles, two home runs and seven RBIs. She became the first YSU player since Kennedy Dean in 2024 to hit two home runs in a game with a pair against Niagara on March 25.
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.
Wilkerson Staying Hot
Wilkerson continues to swing a hot bat at the plate for the Penguins. She leads the team with a .393 batting average, 20 runs scored, three home runs and 18 runs batted in. Wilkerson owns a 10-game hitting streak and owns a .514 batting average (19-37) 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 .309 batting average and 15 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 .306.
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.
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.
