ATLANTA - The Panthers hit the road for the first time in 2026 following a three-game sweep of New Orleans to open the season. Georgia State (3-0) will face Jacksonville State on Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET before traveling to Mercer for a 6 p.m. ET first pitch on Wednesday.
Tuesday: Georgia State at Jacksonville State
Georgia State and Jacksonville State meet for their lone matchup of the 2026 season. The Panthers won last year's meeting 10-7 in Atlanta and trail the all-time series 11-17.
Jacksonville State is coming off a 37-25 season in 2025, including a 15-12 mark in Conference USA play, and presents a strong early-season road test for head coach Brad Stromdahl's club.
On the Mound
Right-hander Cole Roberts will make his first start of the season. The sophomore transfer from UNLV was Georgia State's most consistent starter in 2025, going 6-4 with a 4.69 ERA across 71.0 innings. Roberts led the team in wins and ERA among starting pitchers and earned four consecutive Sun Belt victories last season.
Panthers to Watch
Georgia State's offense scored 27 runs in the opening series sweep of New Orleans.
Wednesday: Georgia State at Mercer
Georgia State closes the two-game midweek stretch Wednesday night in Macon against Mercer at 6 p.m. ET.
The Panthers and Bears are familiar non-conference opponents. Last season's matchup featured a strong outing from Jake Hembree, who worked 6.2 innings and struck out eight in Macon.
Pitching Plan
Georgia State's starter for Wednesday is to be announced. The Panthers showcased strong bullpen depth in the opening weekend, including:
