Release
13
Winner Georgia St. GEORGIA 5-0
8
Bellarmine BELLARMI 0-5
Winner
Georgia St. GEORGIA
5-0
13
Final
8
Bellarmine BELLARMI
0-5
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Georgia St. GEORGIA 3 8 0 1 1 0 0 13 18 2
Bellarmine BELLARMI 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 8 5 1

W: Stephens, Makayla (4-0) L: M. Cowburn (0-3)

Game Recap: Softball |

Panthers Power Past Bellarmine for Undefeated Opening Weekend

CARROLLTON, Ga. – Georgia State softball (5-0, 0-0 SBC) closed out opening weekend undefeated, powering past the Bellarmine Knights 13-8 Sunday at the UWG Opening Weekend Event. The Panthers put up their highest run total since 2021 with a win 13-7 North Florida.

Georgia State (5-0) received contributions from all nine starters, each reaching base safely, as the team racked up 18 hits and dominated at the plate.

Makayla Stephens (4-0) earned the victory out of the bullpen, throwing two shutout innings without allowing a hit or a walk while striking out one. Chloe Hatcher led the charge, going 1-for-1 with a home run, a walk, and three RBIs. McKenzie Walker added a 1-for-2 performance with a triple and an RBI, while Ciarra Jefferson contributed two hits, including a triple.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers jumped on the board early, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning on a three-run homer from Chloe Hatcher.

Bellarmine couldn't respond, and Georgia State's offense came back even stronger in the second inning, exploding for eight runs. Kya Walker's two-run double highlighted the frame, pushing the Panthers' lead to 11-0.

Georgia State added a run in the fourth inning to extend their advantage to 12-0, keeping Bellarmine off the scoreboard.

In the fifth, Dillyn Suggs took advantage of a pickle to steal home, driving in the lone run of the inning. The score was brought to 13-0 in favor of the Panthers.

Bellarmine mounted a late rally, scoring eight runs, but Georgia State held on to secure a 13-8 victory and close the weekend undefeated.

GAME NOTES
»All nine Georgia State starters reached base safely.
»Panthers batted around in the second inning, their highest-scoring frame with eight runs.
»Four players recorded multiple hits.
»Georgia State out-hit Bellarmine 18-5.
»Panthers went 8-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
»They collected three hits in four at-bats with the bases loaded.
»Pitchers faced 35 batters, yielding seven ground balls, 11 fly balls, and recording two strikeouts.
»Hatcher led offensively with a home run and three RBIs.

UP NEXT
The Panthers continue their season on the road in Youngsville, Louisiana, competing in the 2026 Mardi Gras Mambo. Georgia State will face Southeastern Louisiana, Northwestern State, Nicholls, Sam Houston, and LA Tech, with action running from Friday, Feb. 13 through Sunday, Feb. 15.

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