First Pitch
The Youngstown State softball team opens the 2026 season with five games at the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldog Classic, Feb. 6-8, in Boiling Springs, N.C. Youngstown State faces Tarleton State on Friday at 10 a.m. and Gardner-Webb at 3 p.m. The Penguins also play Furman on Saturday at 10 a.m. and the Bulldogs at 3 p.m. YSU closes the tournament against Tarleton State on Sunday at 10 a.m.

Up Next
Youngstown State plays four games at the USC-Upstate Tournament, Feb. 13-14, in Spartanburg, S.C.

Road Warriors
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.

League Opener
Youngstown State opens Horizon League play with a home three-game series against Detroit Mercy, March 20-21.

Notes and Storylines

• Head Coach Brian Campbell owns a 25-year career record of 689-567-2 and needs just 11 more to reach 700 for his career.
• Junior Lydia Wilkerson led the Penguins with a .384 batting average, 66 hits, seven doubles, four home runs and 28 RBIs. She was named All-Horizon League Second-Team after leading the league in hits and batting .390 in league action.
• Junior Macy Littler batted .346 with 29 runs scored, two doubles, a triple and 12 RBIs. Her .346 batting average ranked ninth in the Horizon League while her 56 hits was tied for fifth.
• Sophomore Ayla Ray batted .321 with five doubles, a triple, two home runs, 25 runs scored and 23 RBIs...Posted 13 multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI games.
• Senior transfer Emma 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.
• Junior Selah Moyer, a transfer from Niagara, has appeared in 84 games with 76 starts and owns a career batting average of .336 with nine home runs, 16 doubles and 41 RBIs. 
• Junior Tai Turner, a transfer from St. Peter's (N.J.), batted .352 with 11 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 32 runs batted in. She also recorded a .544 slugging percentage and a .412 on-base percentage last season.