Watson Earns National Player of the Week Award

ATLANTA -- Georgia State senior pitcher Ryan Watson was recognized as National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball newspaper after his 13-strikeout performance in last week's win over Georgia Southern in the Sun Belt Conference Championship.

The fifth-year senior from Sugar Hill, Ga., and North Gwinnett High School, was tremendous in his final collegiate start. He pitched 6.2 scoreless innings and allowed two hits lead Georgia State to the 8-5 win, the Panthers' fourth straight win over their in-state rival.

Watson struck out 10 of the final 14 batters he faced before he was lifted with two outs in the seventh inning and Georgia State leading 6-0.

His 13 strikeouts equal the third-most in school history. Rodney Dickinson set the Georgia State record with 16 strikeouts vs. Furman in 1997 and also struck out 13 vs. Furman that year, while David Giancarlo fanned 14 vs. Furman in 1996.

Watson, a second-team All-Sun Belt selection, earned his seventh win of the season and the 20th of his career to move into a tie for second place in GSU history. Only Dickinson (24 career wins) won more games in a Georgia State uniform.

Watson also collected 12 saves in his career to stand third in GSU history, and his total of 32 combined wins and saves is the school record. He also stands fifth in career strikeouts (213) and appearances (75) and ninth in innings (255.2).

Watson is Georgia State's second National Player of the Week this season, along with Dylan Strickland on March 20, and the fourth Panther to be honored the last two seasons, joining Strickland, Max Ryerson (three times in 2022) and Cameron Jones (2022).

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Players Mentioned

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

#1 Cameron Jones: LHP/OF; 6' 1"; Junior; R/L

#23 Max Ryerson: OF; 6' 2"; Senior; R/R

#10 Dylan Strickland: INF; 5' 11"; Junior; R/R

Players Mentioned

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

#1 Cameron Jones
: 6' 1"; Junior; R/L
: LHP/OF

#23 Max Ryerson
: 6' 2"; Senior; R/R
: OF

#10 Dylan Strickland
: 5' 11"; Junior; R/R
: INF