ATLANTA - Georgia State returns home Tuesday night to host Mercer at the GSU Baseball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. as the Panthers and Bears meet for the second time this season.
Georgia State enters the game 10-7 overall and 7-3 at home. Mercer comes into the matchup with a 14-2 record, including a 14-1 mark at home this season.
The Bears won the first meeting between the teams earlier this year in Macon, defeating Georgia State 8-0 on Feb. 18, Mercer scored in four of the first six innings and limited the Panthers to three hits in the contest.
Pitching Matchup
Georgia State will send LHP Joshua Evans (#5) to the mound for Tuesday's matchup. Evans has appeared in four games this season and will make his second start for the Panthers.
Mercer is scheduled to start RHP Jeb Johnson (#22). Johnson has made six appearances this season and owns a 5.06 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 10.2 innings.
Panthers at the Plate
Georgia State is hitting .267 as a team with 111 runs scored through 17 games. The Panthers have recorded 145 hits, including nine home runs and 30 extra-base hits.
John Beverley leads the Panthers with a .382 batting average and has added 10 stolen bases, while Nick Garagozzo is hitting .295 with 13 RBI. Hunter Carlson has driven in a team-high 19 runs and has two home runs.
Lucas Grantham has added power behind the plate with two home runs and nine RBI, while Wills Maginnis has contributed 12 RBI and seven stolen bases.
Panthers on the Mound
Georgia State's pitching staff owns a 4.90 team ERA with 135 strikeouts over 145 innings.
Tysen Benford has posted a 3.32 ERA in four starts, while Brian Crooms leads the team with three wins and a 3.66 ERA. Jake Hembree has struck out 21 batters in 20 innings this season.
Out of the bullpen, Jacob Crews has yet to allow an earned run in six appearances.
Scouting Mercer
Mercer enters the midweek matchup with one of the most productive offenses in the region, hitting .334 as a team with 159 runs scored and 25 home runs.
Titan Kamaka leads the Bears with a .512 batting average, while Chris Katz is hitting .410 with five home runs and 17 RBI. Braydon Kersey leads the team with 21 RBI, and Logan Shepherd has also added five home runs.
On the mound, Mercer holds a 5.28 team ERA with 165 strikeouts in 133 innings.
Midweek Outlook
Tuesday's contest features two teams capable of producing offense. Mercer has been one of the most explosive lineups in the country early in the season, while Georgia State will look to take advantage of home field and even up the season series.
