BOCA RATON, FL - Georgia State softball is slated to open the season at Florida Atlantic for the 2025 Paradise Classic held Friday-Sunday. The Panthers bookend the weekend facing off against the Owls with a game against Clemson and a pair against Wisconsin rounding out the trip.

Georgia State's Becca Owens will make her head coaching debut in her return to the state of Florida, where she helped lead UCF to an NCAA Tournament appearance as an assistant. 

The Panthers return 16 players from their 2024 roster. Chloe Middlebrooks is the team's leading hitter from a year ago, posting a .285 batting average and a .775 OPS during her junior season. Ashton Schroyer completes the other half of an outfield duo that started 52 games together, returning from a 42-hit season that was eclipsed only by Middlebrooks' 45. In the circle, the Panthers return their top pitcher in Sydney Boulware, who won a team best six games while posting an ERA of 4.58 and an opponent batting average of .282.

Georgia State welcomes three transfers in sophomore infielder Ciarra Jefferson, redshirt sophomore outfielder Payton O'Connor, and redshirt junior outfielder Aleya Hill. They also welcome in five signees from the 2024 high school class. Infielder Zoey Defoor and catcher Ryleigh Garrett are expected to be impact freshmen for the Panthers. 

Georgia State at the FAU Paradise Classic:

Friday, February 7
Vs. FAU - 8:15 p.m. 

Saturday, February 8
Vs. Clemson - 11:15 a.m.
Vs. Wisconsin - 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, February 9
Vs. Wisconsin - 9 a.m. 
Vs. FAU - 1:45 p.m. 

Following the Paradise Classic, the Panthers will travel to Columbia to play in the Carolina Classic hosted by the University of South Carolina February 13-15. They play their first home contest on February 16, when they host the University of Michigan at Bob Heck Softball Complex in Atlanta.