Game 54-56 vs. Georgia Southern
Game 54: Thursday, April 30 @ 6 p.m.
Game 55: Friday, May 1 @ 4 p.m.
Game 56: Saturday, May 2 @ 12 p.m.
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Follow the Action: X | Instagram
ATLANTA — Georgia State softball wraps up the regular season slate this week, hosting Georgia Southern for a three-game series beginning Thursday, April 30. First pitch for game one is set for 6 p.m. Friday's Parent Appreciation matchup is scheduled for 4 p.m., and Senior Day will take place Saturday with first pitch set for 12 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
Georgia State and Georgia Southern have met 87 times in a series that dates back to March 8, 1986. Georgia State leads the all-time series 54-33 and holds a 27-13 advantage in games played in Atlanta. The Panthers earned their first win in the series with a 10-5 victory on April 19, 1986, after dropping the first two meetings. Georgia State enters the upcoming series looking to snap a three-game skid against the Eagles, with Georgia Southern taking the most recent matchup 3-2 on March 29, 2025.
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 carried their strong campaign into the final week of the regular season, leading the Sun Belt in hits (439) and team strikeouts per seven innings (6.32). The Panthers also rank second in stolen bases per game (1.30), strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.48), total stolen bases (69) and WHIP (1.33), while placing fourth in hits allowed per seven innings (6.74) and fifth in batting average (.300).
Individually, Makayla Stephens continues to anchor a dominant pitching staff, leading the Sun Belt in complete games (19), hits allowed per seven innings (5.10), strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.48), strikeouts (214), strikeouts per seven innings (8.0) and WHIP (0.91). She also ranks second in games started (28), innings pitched (186.2), pitching appearances (39), victories (17), shutouts (4) and walks allowed per seven innings (1.24), while placing seventh in earned run average (2.48). Briana Bower has provided a strong complement in the circle, ranking fifth in games started (22), sixth in innings pitched (138.2), ninth in complete games (8) and ninth in strikeouts, while adding another steady presence to the Panthers' staff.
Offensively, McKenzie Walker continues to pace the lineup, ranking second in hits (65), runs (53), runs per game (1.02) and stolen bases (19). She also ranks third in stolen bases per game (0.37). Maya Bagsby has remained a threat on the bases, leading the Sun Belt in stolen bases (20) and stolen bases per game (0.38), while ranking sixth in hits (60).
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.
