Game 21-25: Winthrop Invitational
Location: Rock Hill, S.C.
Friday, March 6 @ 1 p.m. – vs. ETSU
Friday, March 6 @ 3:30 p.m. – at Winthrop
Saturday, March 7 @ 11 a.m. – at Winthrop
Saturday, March 7 @ 3:30 p.m. – vs. Bucknell
Sunday, March 8 @ 10:30 a.m. – vs. ETSU
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ATLANTA – Georgia State softball (12-8, 0-0 SBC) will close out their tournament slate at the Winthrop Invitational, a three-day tournament in Rock Hill, S.C. The Panthers will face ETSU, Winthrop and Bucknell across five games beginning Friday, March 6, at 1 p.m., and continuing through Sunday, March 8.
SERIES HISTORY
Georgia State holds a perfect 5-0 all-time record against East Tennessee State in a series that dates back to March 2, 2007. The Panthers opened the series with an 11-1 victory at a neutral site in Woodstock, Ga., and have maintained control throughout the series. The most recent contest on Feb. 25, 2022, when the Panthers defeated ETSU 6-2 in Kennesaw, Ga. During the series, Georgia State has outscored the Buccaneers 47-17 and will carry a five-game winning streak into the upcoming matchup.
Georgia State holds an 11-8 all-time record against Winthrop in a series that dates back to March 30, 1985. The Eagles claimed the first meeting with a 9-1 victory, but the Panthers gained momentum in the late 1980s, winning five straight contests between the 1988 and 1989 seasons. In more recent meetings, the teams are tied 2-2 since 2009. The Panthers won the first two matchups during that span, including a 6-1 victory on March 8, 2009, and an 8-7 decision on Feb. 13, 2015, while Winthrop has taken the two most recent contests, including a 5-3 win over Georgia State on Feb. 15, 2025.
This weekend will mark the first-ever meeting between Georgia State and Bucknell.
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 have continued to make a statement early in nonconference play. Georgia State leads the Sun Belt Conference in hits (213) and team strikeouts per seven innings (6.68), while ranking second in batting average (.367) and on-base percentage (.429). The Panthers rank third in RBIs per game (5.75), total RBIs (115) and total runs scored (127), while sitting fourth in scoring at 6.35 runs per game. Georgia State also ranks third in triples (6) and fourth in triples per game (0.30), while holding a 1.32 team WHIP that ranks third in the conference.
Individually, Makayla Stephens continues to set the standard in the circle, leading the Sun Belt in complete games (8), innings pitched (74.2), pitching appearances (15), strikeouts (88), strikeouts per seven innings (8.3), victories (9), WHIP (0.78), shutouts (3) and hits allowed per seven innings (4.50). She also ranks second in ERA (1.78) and walks allowed per seven innings (0.94), while sitting fourth in games started (10). Offensively, McKenzie Walker anchors the lineup, ranking fourth in the conference with a .470 batting average while leading the league in hits (31) and runs scored (25) and ranking second in runs per game (1.25). Maia Mumpfield adds run production, ranking second in the conference with 25 RBIs and second in RBIs per game (1.25), while Chloe Hatcher ranks third in RBIs (22) and fourth in RBIs per game (1.10). Defensively, Caitlyn Hall leads the conference 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.
