ATLANTA --
Brad Stromdahl makes his debut as the Georgia State head coach as the Panthers open the 2020 season Friday at 4 p.m. against Cincinnati in the Atlanta Challenge at the GSU Baseball Complex.
The sixth annual Atlanta Challenge brings Cincinnati, a 2019 NCAA Regional team, as well as St. John's and Saint Peter's to Atlanta to play one game each at Georgia State, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State. After opening against the Bearcats, GSU hosts St. John's Saturday at 2 p.m. and Saint Peter's Sunday at 1 p.m.
A former Georgia State assistant coach, Stromdahl takes over the program after seven seasons as the head coach at nearby Georgia Gwinnett, a program that he built from scratch beginning in 2013. He compiled a record of 328-104, including three trips to the Avista-NAIA World Series. He was at GSU from 2007-11, helping the Panthers average more than 35 wins over his final seasons, including the program's only NCAA Regional in 2009.
"It's wonderful to be back, and I'm so appreciative of this opportunity," Stromdahl said.Â
Georgia State is opening the season at home for the 11th straight year. GSU is 8-7 for the five previous Atlanta Challenge weekends. Last season, the Panthers dropped the first two games to Richmond and West Virginia before defeating UIC on Sunday.
"It's going to be a great challenge, and I think we're ready for it," Stromdahl said. "We've just got to get out there and show what we can do, and what we need to improve on. Ultimately, what we really need to do is play baseball, and I'm so looking forward to it."
Georgia State has never faced any of the three teams in this year's field. St. John's played in the inaugural Atlanta Challenge in 2015, but when weather altered the scheduled, GSU did not face the Red Storm that year.
Looking to improve on last year's 15-41 season, Georgia State returns 16 letterwinners, including six starters in the field:
Daino Deas, 2B;
Elian Merejo, DH;
Griffin Cheney, SS;
Ryan Glass, 1B/3B;
Josh Smith, OF/1B; and
Dalton Davies, C. The Panthers welcome 15 newcomers, including 10 freshmen and five transfers.
Sophomore left-hander
Seth Clark gets the Opening Day start for the Panthers, followed in the rotation by sophomore righty
Ryan Watson and senior southpaw
Tyler Koch.
SIXTH ANNUAL ATLANTA CHALLENGE
Friday: Cincinnati at Georgia State | Saint Peter's at Georgia Tech | St. John's at Kennesaw State
Saturday: St. John's at Georgia State | Cincinnati at Georgia Tech | Saint Peter's at Kennesaw State
Sunday: Saint Peter's at Georgia State | St. John's at Georgia Tech | Cincinnati at Kennesaw State
COVERAGE
Live audio stream on GeorgiaStateSports.com and GSU mobile app for Friday's game only.
Live stats for all three games on GeorgiaStateSports.com and GSU mobile app.
2019 RECORDS
Georgia State: 15-41, 6-24 Sun Belt
Cincinnati: 31-31, 13-11 AAC (NCAA Corvallis Regional)Â
St. John's: 31-23, 9-9 Big East
Saint Peter's: 5-46, 3-21 MAAC
PROBABLE PITCHERS (2019 Stats)
Friday: GSU LHP
Seth Clark (So., 2-2, 8.21) vs. UC LHP Evan Shawver (3-8, 7.15)
Saturday: GSU RHP
Ryan Watson (So., 6-5, 7.08) vs. SJ RHP Joe Joe Rodriguez (Jr., Transfer)
Sunday: GSU LHP
Tyler Koch (Sr., 0-5, 7.20) vs. Saint Peter's TBA
