Youngstown State softball team set for UMBC Tournament this weekend

The Youngstown State softball team returns to action with a four-game set at the UMBC Tournament, Feb. 25-26, in Baltimore, Md.

The Penguins take on Lafayette on Saturday at 11 a.m. and UMBC at 4 p.m. while facing the Leopards at 10 a.m. and the Retrievers at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

What happened the last time Youngstown State played?

The Penguins went 1-3 in a four-game series at Norfolk State on Feb. 13-14. The Penguins lost to the Spartans, 9-4, before a 6-4 victory on Feb. 13. YSU lost a pair of games to the Spartans, 3-0, and 5-3, on Feb. 14.

How to watch the UMBC Tournament online

Saturday’s games will be shown here, while Sunday’s games will be shown here.

Don’t mess with Sara Fessler

Junior Sara Fessler turned in an impressive opening weekend for the Penguins batting .538 with a double, home run and three runs batted in.

Hailey Niederkohr, Avrey Schumacher off to solid starts

Outfielders Hailey Niederkohr and Avrey Schumacher got off to good starts for the Penguins. Both Niederkohr and Schumacher batted .385 in the opening four-game series. Niederkohr also posted three doubles and scored four runs.

Conchetta Rinaldi is RBI ready

Senior Conchetta Rinaldi was Youngstown State’s top RBI producer last season and ranked third in the Horizon League with 32. Rinaldi batted .271 with six home runs and tied for sixth in the league with 10 doubles. She leads the Penguins this season with four runs batted in

Devan Ryan impressive

Junior pitcher Devan Ryan had an impressive opening weekend for the Penguins. She picked up her first collegiate win in YSU’s 6-4 win over Norfolk State. She also posted a 0.78 earned run average.

Megan Turner among tops in power numbers

Senior Megan Turner was one of the top power hitters in the Horizon League last season. She belted eight home runs with 11 doubles and 28 runs batted in. Turner ranked fourth in home runs, fifth in doubles and sixth in RBIs.

Sophie Howell showing improvement

Junior Sophie Howell posted a solid season in the circle last season. Howell picked up seven wins and recorded a 2.28 earned-run average, which ranked third in the Horizon League. She also ranked ninth in the league with 98 strikeouts.

Youngstown State Penguins picked fifth in Horizon League

Youngstown State has been predicted to finish fifth in the Horizon League after a preseason vote of the league’s head coaches, the league announced on Feb. 8.

The Penguins, received 50 points, are coming off their second straight 30-win campaign after going 32-24 overall and 17-9 in the Horizon League.

Oakland earned 77 points and eight first-place votes to earn the top spot in voting done by the League’s head coaches while Robert Morris (68 points) was voted second in the poll, collecting one first-place vote.

Coming in third place is Cleveland State (61 points) and Green Bay earned 51 points to finish in fourth, just ahead of YSU in fifth (50 points). Northern Kentucky placed sixth in the poll with 43 points.

IUPUI (22 points), Purdue Fort Wayne (20 points) and Detroit Mercy (13 points) rounded out the poll.

2023 Horizon League preseason softball poll

Team – Points (First-place votes)

1. Oakland (8) – 77

2. RMU (1) – 68

3. Cleveland State – 61

4. Green Bay – 51

5. Youngstown State – 50

6. Northern Kentucky – 43

7. IUPUI – 22

8. Purdue Fort Wayne – 20

9. Detroit Mercy – 13

Youngstown State vs Lafayette and UMBC this weekend

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