A season of growth amid adversity
The 2026 campaign for Youngstown State's baseball program was a marathon across the country, with the Penguins logging 54 games in ten different states from mid‑February through late May. Despite a 15‑39 overall record and a 12‑12 mark in Horizon League play that placed them fourth in the league standings, the team showed measurable progress on the mound and in the field.
A key driver of that progress was senior left‑hander Braden Gebhardt, whose dominant performances earned him the Horizon League Pitcher of the Year award. Gebhardt finished the season 5‑4 with a 3.19 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 87.1 innings, matching a single‑season school record with 15 starts and helping the staff lower its team ERA to 7.30, the best since 2022.
Offensively, the club leaned on senior outfielder Brady Shannon, who captured Second‑Team All‑Horizon League honors after tying for the league lead with 15 home runs and posting a .560 slugging percentage. Fifth‑year senior Kendal Spencer, who missed a stretch of 28 games due to injury, returned on May 14 at Wright State and went 2‑for‑4 with a double, two RBIs and three stolen bases in a 5‑2 victory that capped the regular season.
The Penguins also celebrated a historic sweep of regular‑season champion Wright State in a three‑game Horizon League series, a highlight that underscored their ability to compete with the league’s top team. Freshmen Alex Jang, Misael Uriepero and left‑hander Bryce Palms earned spots on the Horizon League All‑Freshman Team, signaling a promising pipeline of talent.
With 72 stolen bases in 96 attempts — the most for the program since the 2021 squad swiped 88 — Youngstown State demonstrated a renewed emphasis on speed on the bases. The blend of veteran leadership, breakout performances and emerging underclassmen sets the stage for a potentially brighter future as the program looks to build on the strides made in 2026.