Game 31-33 at Troy
Game 31: Friday, March 20 @ 7 p.m.
Game 32: Saturday, March 21 @ 4:30 p.m.
Game 33: Sunday, March 22 @ 1 p.m.
Location: Troy, Ala.
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ATLANTA – Georgia State softball (19-11, 1-2 SBC) continues Sun Belt play on the road, traveling to Troy, Alabama for a three-game series against the Troy Trojans (17-10, 0-3 SBC). First pitch is set for Friday, March 20 at 7 p.m., followed by Saturday's matchup at 4:30 p.m. before the series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
The two programs have met 72 times in the diamond, with the Trojans holding a 48-24 advantage in the all-time series. The Panthers are 14-21 against Troy in games played in Atlanta, 7-19 in Troy, and 3-8 in neutral site contests. The teams first met on April 7, 1984, in Pensacola, Fla., where Georgia State fell 9-3. The Panthers and Trojans have squared off across three different conferences over the years, including the TAAC, ASUN and now the Sun Belt Conference. Despite the overall series deficit, Georgia State has found stretches of success, including a strong run in 2014-16 where the Panthers won eight of nine meetings. The most recent meeting came on April 27, 2025, when Troy defeated Georgia State 10-0 in Troy. The Trojans currently hold a one-game winning streak in the series.
SMASHING START
The Georgia State Panthers kicked off their season with the program's best start since 2008, sweeping the UWG Opening Weekend Event with a perfect 5-0 record. Over the weekend, GSU racked up 50 runs on 74 hits, boasting a scorching .446 team batting average. The Panthers showcased their power with six doubles, three triples, and four home runs, while their pitching held opponents to a stingy .169 batting average.
SUN BELT DOMINANCE
The Georgia State Panthers entered week six leading the league in total hits (280), hits allowed per seven innings (5.83), and team WHIP (1.20). The Panthers also ranked second in batting average (.344), strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.56), and team strikeouts per seven innings (6.56). Georgia State sat third in total runs scored (165), total RBIs (150), and hit batters (12).
Individually, Makayla Stephens has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the conference, leading the Sun Belt in innings pitched (109.2), strikeouts (126), victories (12), shutouts (4), strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.41), WHIP (0.78), pitching appearances (22), and hits allowed per seven innings (4.34). She also ranked second in games started (15) and third in strikeouts per seven innings (8.0). Briana Bower complemented the staff, ranking sixth in complete games (6) and games started (12) while sitting eighth in innings pitched (71.1).
Offensively, Maia Mumpfield paced the conference with 36 RBIs and ranked second in RBIs per game (1.24) while also placing fifth in hits (36). McKenzie Walker fueled the top of the lineup, ranking second in runs scored (32), second in runs per game (1.10), and fourth in hits (38). On the bases, Maya Bagby and Walker each ranked fourth in the conference with 10 stolen bases. Defensively, Caitlyn Hall ranked third in the Sun Belt with five runners caught stealing.
INSIDE THE CIRCLE
Georgia State will feature a fresh look inside the circle this season as the Panthers' return only one pitcher from last season, Makayla Stephens. Stephens made 27 appearances during the 2025 campaign, striking out 103 batter to rank seventh in the conference in strikeouts and fourth in strikeouts looking (33). She will be joined by a group of newcomers in the circle, as freshman Brynn Belstle and Illinois transfer Briana Bower look to add new style to the Panthers' pitching staff.
NEW TO THE A
Georgia State welcomes nine new faces to the roster for the upcoming season, including four freshmen and five transfers ready to make an immediate impact. Freshmen Kya Walker, Maya Bagsby, Brynn Belstle and Samantha Breaux bring youthful energy and potential, while transfers Caitlyn Hall (Abilene Christian), Briana Bower (Illinois), Allison Jones (Rhode Island) and Dillyn Suggs (Campbell) bring collegiate experience to bolster the Panthers' lineup.
GEORGIA ON OUR MIND
Georgia State's roster reflects a strong homegrown presence, with 14 out of 21 players hailing from the Peach State. The remaining seven players bring added depth to the roster, representing Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), Florida (1), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Missouri (1) and Texas (1).
NADLER HERE TO STAY
Following two standout seasons with the Panthers, Nadler joined the Owens coaching staff as a Graduate Assistant. She concluded her senior campaign as the team's offensive leader, starting 46 of 47 games. Nadler led the 2024 roster in nearly every major statistical category, including batting average (.296), home runs (7), triples (2), RBI (22), slugging (.520), and OBP (.390). During a highlight performance against Robert Morris on Feb. 23, 2024, she etched herself into the record book with a single-game home runs record (2), marking the second highest in a single game in program history.
Admission is free to all Georgia State softball home games in 2026.
