Game 38 at Chattanooga
Game 38: Tuesday, March 31 @ 5 p.m.
Location: Chattanooga, Tenn.
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ATLANTA – Georgia State softball heads into Tennessee to face the Chattanooga Mocs for a midweek tilt on Tuesday, March 31. The first pitch is set for 5 p.m. at Frost Stadium.
SERIES HISTORY
Georgia State trails Chattanooga 12-14 in the all-time series that dates back to April 2, 1994. Georgia State dominated with an eight-game winning streak from 2011 to 2021. That stretch included an 11-0 run-rule victory on April 13, 2016, marking the largest margin of victory in series history. Momentum has swung in Chattanooga's favor in recent years, as they enter this matchup riding a six-game winning streak in the series dating back to 2022. Georgia State is 4-6 in the last 10 meetings. The most recent matchup came on March 4, 2025, when Chattanooga secured a 9-1 victory in Atlanta.
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 eight, pacing the Sun Belt in hits (322), hits allowed per seven innings (6.33), team strikeouts per seven innings (6.54) and WHIP (1.27). The Panthers also rank second in batting average (.327) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.52), while placing third in stolen bases per game (1.39), triples (9) and triples per game (0.25).
Individually, Makayla Stephens continues to headline a dominant pitching staff, leading the Sun Belt in strikeouts (143), strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.15), WHIP (0.82), shutouts (4) and hits allowed per seven innings (4.58). She also ranks second in innings pitched (123.2), second in earned run average (2.09), second in walks allowed per seven innings (1.13), third in victories (12), third in pitching appearances (25), fourth in games started (18) and second in strikeouts per seven innings (8.1). Briana Bower has been a key complement in the circle, ranking sixth in complete games (7) and games started (15), eighth in innings pitched (88.0) and ninth in strikeouts (62).
Offensively, McKenzie Walker has been a fuels the top of the lineup, ranking second in the conference in hits (48) and runs scored (39), third in runs per game (1.08), fourth in on-base percentage (.515), sixth in batting average (.429) and fifth in triples per game (0.08). Maia Mumpfield continues to drive in runs at an elite rate, ranking third in RBIs (36) and second in RBIs per game (1.24). On the basepaths, Maya Bagby and Walker have each tallied 14 stolen bases, tied for second in the Sun Belt and fourth in stolen bases per game (0.39). Defensively, Caitlyn Hall has thrown out five runners, ranking seventh 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.
