ATLANTA - Georgia State (3-2) returns to the GSU Baseball Complex this weekend for a three-game series against Bellarmine. The Panthers are 3-0 at home this season and look to bounce back after dropping two midweek road contests.

Through five games, Georgia State is hitting .231 as a team with 29 runs scored and 33 walks drawn. The Panthers own a 4.20 team ERA with 47 strikeouts across 45.0 innings.

Bellarmine enters the weekend at 2-2 overall, hitting .301 as a team with five home runs and a .438 slugging percentage. The Knights carry an 8.02 team ERA through four games while striking out 15 batters in 33.2 innings.

The series marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Friday – 4 p.m.

Georgia State: #3 Tysen Benford (RHP)
Bellarmine: #32 Karl Ralamb (RHP)

Benford makes his second start of the season after tossing 4.0 innings on Opening Day. The right-hander enters with a 6.75 ERA and four strikeouts over 4.0 innings. 

Bellarmine counters with Ralamb, who allowed four earned runs over 3.0 innings in his season debut.

Offensively, Georgia State has been led by:

• John Beverley, who is hitting .389 with five runs scored and two stolen bases.

• Wesley Bass, batting .333 with two doubles, a home run, four RBI, and a .529 on-base percentage.

• Wills Maginnis, hitting .313 with four RBI and three stolen bases.

• Nick Garagozzo, who has driven in five runs and drawn six walks.

Bellarmine's offense has been paced by Cole Huett (.444, 1 HR, 3 RBI) and Eli Watson (.412, 7 hits), while Luca Hoerger is hitting .353 with a homer and a .588 slugging percentage.

Saturday – 3 p.m.

Georgia State: #32 Brian Crooms (RHP)
Bellarmine: #27 Chase Carver (RHP)

Crooms takes the mound in game two after earning a win earlier this season. The graduate right-hander has a 5.40 ERA over 5.0 innings in 2026 and went 3-1 last year in 17 appearances.

Bellarmine will send Carver, who was sharp in his first start, allowing just one run over 7.0 innings with four strikeouts and a 1.29 ERA.

Georgia State's bullpen has provided depth early, including:

• Will Bartkoski, holding a 1.69 ERA with six strikeouts in 5.1 innings.

• Jacob Crews, who has allowed just one unearned run in 2.0 innings while striking out five.

Sunday – 1 p.m.

Georgia State: #7 Jake Hembree (LHP)
Bellarmine: #29 Lucas Letsinger (RHP)

Hembree will start the series finale after a dominant first outing in which he threw 5.0 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. Opponents are batting just .125 against the left-hander.

Letsinger will start for the Knights after allowing seven earned runs over 1.1 innings in his first appearance.

Georgia State has shown the ability to miss bats early, totaling 47 strikeouts in five games, while opponents are hitting .234 against Panther pitching.