First Pitch
The Youngstown State softball team returns to action for five games at the 2026 Bank of the James Invitational, Feb. 27-March 1, hosted by Longwood University in Farmville, Va.

On the Docket
The Penguins open the tournament on Friday facing Longwood at 10 a.m. and Penn at 12:30 p.m. On Saturday, Youngstown State takes on Mt. St. Mary's at 10 a.m. and Hampton at 12:30 p.m. The Penguins close out the tournament against Penn on Sunday at 10 a.m.

Last Time Out
Youngstown State Penguins went 1-3 at the Wings, Etc., Classic at USC Upstate, Feb. 13-14. The Penguins defeated West Georgia, 9-7, on Feb. 14.

Up Next
The Penguins continue their spring break trip with a doubleheader against Hampton, March 3, a single game at Longwood, March 5, and round-robin tournament against Longwood and Le Moyne, March 6-7, in Farmville, Va.

Penguins Bring the Lumber
Youngstown State's offense carried plenty of clout during the first two weekends of the season. The Penguins own .335 team batting average with 16 doubles, two triples, and eight home runs through nine games

The Dean of Softball
Senior Kennedy Dean was a tough out for her opponents through nine games. Dean is batting .483 with four doubles, two homes and 12 RBIs. During the opening weekend, 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.

Bella of the Ball
Sophomore infielder is off to a great start to her second season. Meyer is batting .417 with two doubles and four 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 leads the team with a .484 batting average going 15-for-31 in nine games. In 115 games played, Wilkerson owns a career batting average of .369, which ranks second all-time.

Getting Back Home
Following the spring break trip, the Penguins visit Pitt in a single game, Tuesday, March 18 then 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.