First Pitch
The Youngstown State softball team is back on the road for four games at the Wing, Etc. Classic host by USC Upstate, Feb. 13-14, at Cyrill Softball Stadium in Spartanburg, S.C. The Penguins take on West Georgia and USC Upstate on both days of the classic. Youngstown State will face West Georgia at 11 a.m. and USC Upstate at 4 p.m. on Friday. The Penguins game against the Spartans will be aired on ESPN+. On Saturday, YSU will face the Wolves at 11 a.m. and the Spartans at 1:30 p.m.
Last Time Out
Youngstown State went 2-3 to open the season at the Runnin' Bulldog Classic hosted by Gardner-Webb. The Penguins defeated Gardner-Webb, 16-6, and Furman, 8-3 and fell twice to Tarleton State, 8-7, 7-6, and to the Bulldogs, 13-12.
Up Next
The Penguins are idle next week but return to action for five games at the Longwood Tournament, Feb. 27-March 1, in Farmville, Va. The Penguins will face Longwood and Penn, Feb. 27, Mt. Saint Mary's and Hampton, Feb. 28, and Penn, March 1.
Penguins Bring the Lumber
Youngstown State's offense carried plenty of clout in the season's opening weekend. The Penguins batted .361 with 11 doubles, two triples, four home runs, and outscored their opponents, 49-37, in five games.
The Dean of Softball
Senior Kennedy Dean was a tough out for her opponents last week. She batted .529 (9-for-17) with four doubles, home run, seven runs scored, and eight RBIs. She slugged .941 with an on-base percentage of .550 for an OPS of 1.491. Dean collected a hit in four of the five games and had three multi-hit games. She went 4-for-4 with three runs scored, two doubles, a home run and six RBIs in YSU 16-6 win over Gardner-Webb.
Selah, Say More
Junior infielder Selah Moyer turned in an impressive Penguins debut last weekend. Moyer batted .417 with two doubles, a home run, and six RBIs. She also slugged .833 with a .588 on-base percentage.
All Tai'd Up
Tai Turner, a junior transfer from St. Peter's, posted a solid opening week at the plate. She went 7-for-19 for a .368 average with eight runs score, a triple and five runs batted in.
Lydia Being Lydia
Junior Lydia Wilkerson, a two-time All-Horizon League selection, continues to prove she is a hitting machine. Wilkerson batted .444 (8-for-18) with five runs batted in during the Penguins opening weekend. In 111games played, Wilkerson owns a career batting average of .362, which ranks tied third all-time.
Getting Back Home
The Penguins, who play their first 22 games on the road, host Saint Francis (Pa.) on Wednesday, March 18, at 3 p.m. at the YSU Softball Field. Youngstown State opens Horizon League play with a home three-game series against Detroit Mercy, March 20-21.
