Game 35-37 at App State
Game 35: Friday, March 27 @ 6 p.m.
Game 36: Saturday, March 28 @ 3 p.m.
Game 37: Sunday, March 29 @ 12 p.m.
Location: Boone, N.C.
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ATLANTA – Georgia State softball continues their conference slate on the road, traveling to Boone, N.C. for a three-game series against the Appalachian State Mountaineers. First pitch is set for Friday, March 27 at 6 p.m., followed by Saturday's matchup at 3 p.m. before the series concludes Sunday at 12 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
Georgia State holds a 19-15 all-time record over App State in a series that dates back to the Panthers' final slow-pitch season in 1984. The two programs first met on March 6, 1984, when Georgia State swept a doubleheader. Overall, GSU is 10-10 against App State at Bob Heck Softball Complex, 7-3 on the road in Boone, and 2-2 in neutral-site meetings. The Panthers had a dominant stretch from 2015-18 where the Panthers won 12 of 13 matchups, including series sweeps in 2016, 2017 and 2018. The momentum has shifted in favor of App State, as they enter this weekend riding a six-game winning streak in the series. The most recent matchup came on April 19, 2025, when App State secured a 9-3 victory.
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 continued their strong campaign into week seven, pacing the Sun Belt in hits (307), hits allowed per seven innings (5.96), team strikeouts per seven innings (6.70), and WHIP (1.20). The Panthers also ranked second in batting average (.333), strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.77), triples (9), and triples per game (0.27), while sitting third in total stolen bases (45).
Individually, Makayla Stephens has remained one of the conference's most dominant arms, leading the Sun Belt in innings pitched (122.0), strikeouts (142), earned run average (1.89), shutouts (4), strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.47), WHIP (0.80), and hits allowed per seven innings (4.48). She also ranked second in victories (12), third in games started (17), second in pitching appearances (24), and third in strikeouts per seven innings (8.1). Briana Bower has provided a steady complement in the circle, ranking sixth in complete games (6), eighth in games started (13) and innings pitched (78.1), and 11th in strikeouts (55).
Offensively, Maia Mumpfield has continued to produce at a high level, ranking second in the conference with 36 RBIs and RBIs per game (1.24). McKenzie Walker fuels the top of the lineup, ranking second in runs scored (34), third in runs per game (1.03), and third in hits (43), while also placing fourth in triples per game (0.09). On the basepaths, Walker and Maya Bagby have each swiped 12 bags, tied for third in the Sun Belt and fourth in stolen bases per game (0.36). Defensively, Caitlyn Hall has caught five runners, ranking fifth in the conference.
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.
