Indianapolis, Ind. – The Youngstown State softball team was predicted to finish fifth in the 2026 Under Armour Horizon League Softball Preseason Poll after a vote of the league's head coaches.
The Penguins received 19 points while Robert Morris was voted as the preseason favorite with 48 points and six first-place votes.
Youngstown State returns All-Horizon League Second-Team pick Lydia Wilkerson and added all-league first-team selection Emma Gilkerson, a transfer from Cleveland State.
Wilkerson led the Penguins with a .384 batting average, 66 hits, seven doubles, four home runs and 28 RBIs. She also led the league in hits and batted .390 in league action.
Gilkerson is a two-time All-Horizon League selection and owns a career batting average of .306 with 23 doubles, 20 home runs and 72 runs batted in. Last season, she was named First-Team All-Horizon League and All-Tournament Team. She helped Cleveland State to the 2025 Horizon League Regular-Season Championship. Gilkerson batted .339 with 12 home runs, 11 doubles and 38 runs batted in…Posted a .552 slugging percentage and .411 on-base percentage.
2026 Under Armour #HLSB Preseason Poll
Pl.      Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1.        RMU (6) – 48
2.        IU Indianapolis – 33
T3.      Green Bay – 31
T3.      Northern Kentucky – 31
5.        Youngstown State – 19
6.        Oakland – 18
7.        Detroit Mercy (1) – 16Â
Returning 2025 #HLSB All-League Selections
Jada Davis, Detroit Mercy (All-League Second Team)
Erin Flynn, Detroit Mercy (All-Freshman Team)
Sara Ebner, Green Bay (Player of the Year/Freshman of the Year/All-League First Team/All-Freshman Team)
Jenna Redders, Green Bay (All-League First Team)
Brooke Schwall, Green Bay (All-Freshman Team)
Molly Kable, IU Indianapolis (Player of the Year/All-League First Team)
Callie Dickerson, IU Indianapolis (All-Freshman Team)
Kamryn Troyer, Oakland (All-League Second Team)
Kenna Bommarito, Oakland (All-League Second Team/All-Freshman Team)
Mary Brant, RMU (Freshman of the Year/All-Freshman Team)
Courtney Poulich, RMU (All-League First Team)
Kaylyn Hopf, RMU (All-League Second Team)
Kaitlyn Molitoris, RMU (All-League Second Team)
Lydia Wilkerson, Youngstown State (All-League Second Team)
Emma Gilkerson, Cleveland State (now at Youngstown State) (All-League First Team)
Returning 2025 Valeo #HLSB All-Academic Team Selections
Bella Herman, Green Bay
Paige McPhearson, IU Indianapolis (Honorable Mention)
Alicia Flores, Northern Kentucky
Jena Rhoads, Northern Kentucky
Brooklyn Plitz, Oakland
Courtney Poulich, RMU
Lydia Wilkerson, Youngstown State
