Baseball Faces Most Challenging Schedule in Program History

ATLANTA -- Twenty games against teams ranked in the preseason Top 25 and 20 contests against programs from Power 5 conferences highlight the most challenging schedule in Georgia State baseball history, announced by second-year head coach Brad Stromdahl.

Opening Day is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 19, when the Panthers host Big 12 Conference foe West Virginia, ranked No. 14 in the D1 Baseball preseason poll, in the opening of a four-game weekend series at the GSU Baseball Complex.

That kicks off a stretch of 18 straight non-conference games against Big 12, SEC and ACC foes to open the season, including games against consensus preseason No. 1 Florida, as well as West Virginia, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Kentucky and Clemson.

2021 Baseball Schedule

"We're excited for the opportunities this schedule provides," Stromdahl said. "We'll challenge ourselves against some of the best programs in the country on the road, which will prepare us for the conference season and the tournament. Our organization needs to see what it's like to play at the highest level of competition in the NCAA, and we expect these teams will play during these uncertain times.

"It will be a special year for our players and staff, and we are very much looking forward to the trials as well as the delights which lay ahead for our team."

In last year's abbreviated season, which was the first for Stromdahl and his staff, the Panthers were off to a promising start with a 9-7 record. All the key players return, including top hitter Elian Merejo, the senior outfielder-DH who hit .407 with five homer and 13 RBI, along with infielders Griffin Cheney (.302 average, nine stolen bases) and Will Mize, a Freshman All-America selection who hit .373 with 17 RBI. The pitching staff features sophomore right-hander Ryan Watson, slated as the Friday starter, as well as Freshman All-America righty Chad Treadway, senior lefty Tyler Koch and closer Joseph Brandon. Georgia State's crop of 15 newcomers is perhaps the most talented and highly-regarded recruiting class in program history.

More on Georgia State's 2021 schedule:

> GSU faces eight different teams that are ranked in at least one Preseason Top 25 for a total of 20 games, including 11 road tests. No. 14 West Virginia (four games), No. 12 Georgia, No. 15 Georgia Tech and No. 23 Coastal Carolina (three games) will visit the GSU Baseball Complex, while the Panthers play at Tech as well as No. 2 Vanderbilt (four games), No. 16 Tennessee (three games), No. 1 Florida (one game), No. 25 Clemson (one game) as well as Georgia and Georgia Tech.

> The Panthers will play home-and-home series with Georgia and Georgia Tech as part of their 16 games against in-state foes, including Georgia Southern (three games), Mercer (four games) and Kennesaw State (five games).

> The Sun Belt Conference slate opens March 19 with a series at ULM. The Panthers host in-state rival Georgia Southern in a Thursday-Saturday series on Easter weekend (April 1-3), and also host three-game sets with Troy, Coastal Carolina and Little Rock. After ULM, GSU plays series at Appalachian State, South Alabama and Texas State.

> The 2021 Sun Belt Conference Tournament is scheduled for May 25-30 at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Ala.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Joseph Brandon: RHP; 6' 1"; Sophomore; R/R

#21 Griffin Cheney: INF; 5' 11"; Junior; R/R

#23 Tyler Koch: LHP; 6' 1"; Senior; L/L

#18 Elian Merejo: C; 6' 0"; Senior; R/R

#14 Will Mize: INF; 6' 2"; Freshman; R/R

#20 Chad Treadway: RHP; 6' 1"; Freshman; L/R

#25 Ryan Watson: RHP; 6' 2"; Sophomore; R/R

Players Mentioned

#7 Joseph Brandon
: 6' 1"; Sophomore; R/R
: RHP

#21 Griffin Cheney
: 5' 11"; Junior; R/R
: INF

#23 Tyler Koch
: 6' 1"; Senior; L/L
: LHP

#18 Elian Merejo
: 6' 0"; Senior; R/R
: C

#14 Will Mize
: 6' 2"; Freshman; R/R
: INF

#20 Chad Treadway
: 6' 1"; Freshman; L/R
: RHP

#25 Ryan Watson
: 6' 2"; Sophomore; R/R
: RHP