ATLANTA - Georgia State returns to the GSU Baseball Complex this weekend for a three-game series against Charleston Southern. The Panthers enter the series with a 9-5 overall record and a 6-1 mark at home after facing No. 3 Georgia Tech in midweek action.
Charleston Southern arrives in Atlanta with a 10-2 record and has started the season strong, sweeping all three of its weekend series so far.
This weekend will mark the third series between the programs. Georgia State won the most recent meeting in 2019, taking the series 2-1, while Charleston Southern won the first matchup between the teams in 1982. All previous meetings were played in Charleston, making this the first time the series will be played in Atlanta.
Panthers at the Plate
Georgia State enters the series hitting .269 as a team with 98Â runs scored through 14 games. The Panthers have shown balance throughout the lineup with multiple players contributing offensively.
John Beverley leads the team with a .372 batting average and seven stolen bases. Jae Williams is hitting .325 with 13 runs scored, and Nick Garagozzo carries a .320 average with 13 RBI.
Hunter Carlson has driven in a team-high 17 runs, while Wills Maginnis has added 11 RBI and five stolen bases. Lucas Grantham has also contributed power from behind the plate with two home runs and nine RBI.
Panthers on the Mound
Georgia State enters the weekend with a 4.28 team ERA and 117 strikeouts across 120 innings.
Jake Hembree has been one of the most effective arms for the Panthers with a 1.08 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 16.2 innings. Tysen Benford has posted a 2.25 ERA across 16.0 innings, while Cole Roberts owns a 2.57 ERA over 14.0 innings.
The bullpen has also provided strong depth with Jacob Crews holding a 0.00 ERA and Cooper Lewis posting a 1.35 ERA while striking out 10 batters in 6.2 innings.
Scouting Charleston Southern
Charleston Southern enters the series hitting .281 as a team with 106Â runs scored and 9Â home runs through 12 games.
Chandler Tuupo leads the Buccaneers with a .409 batting average and three home runs, while Blake Edgmon is hitting .359 with 17 hits. Caden Wolfley has added seven stolen bases and 14 runs scored as part of a lineup that has produced consistently early in the season.
On the mound, Charleston Southern carries a 4.21 team ERA with 118 strikeouts in 107 innings. Brady Bickett has been particularly effective with a 0.00 ERA through his first three starts, while Aydan Smith owns a 2.13 ERA with 16 strikeouts.
Series Outlook
Both teams enter the weekend with similar production on the mound. Georgia State holds a 4.28 team ERA with 117 strikeouts, while Charleston Southern has posted a 4.21 ERA with 118 strikeouts.
With Charleston Southern off to a 10-2 start and Georgia State playing well at home, the series presents an early-season non-conference test before Sun Belt play begins next weekend.
