Georgia State heads to Hattiesburg this weekend for a pivotal Sun Belt series against nationally ranked No. 23 Southern Miss. Games are scheduled for Thursday through Saturday at Pete Taylor Park, and all three contests will be streamed on ESPN+.
The Panthers (22-16, 8-7 Sun Belt) are coming off a challenging series against Coastal Carolina and will now look to bounce back with a statement performance on the road. Meanwhile, Southern Miss (25-12, 10-5 Sun Belt) sits just two games ahead of Georgia State in the conference standings, making this series a critical opportunity for the Panthers to climb.
Panther Power Bats Lead the Way
Georgia State continues to be one of the most explosive offenses in the Sun Belt, leading the conference in home runs (60), total bases (627), slugging percentage (.507), and runs scored (294). Senior Colin Hynek leads the team with 13 home runs, including two streaks of homers in three straight games this season. Wills Maginnis, a freshman phenom and former Sun Belt Player of the Week, adds consistent production with a .300 average, 31 RBIs, and a team-best 17 hit-by-pitches, ranking 17th nationally.
But it's senior second baseman Kaleb Freeman who continues to set the tone. Freeman leads the NCAA in doubles (21) and walks (45), and his .527 on-base percentage ranks 16th in the nation. His elite discipline at the plate has been a key catalyst for Georgia State's high-octane offense.
Starting Rotation Looks to Contain Golden Eagles
The Panthers will counter a dangerous Southern Miss lineup with a trio of starters who have delivered in big moments. Junior Cole Roberts (6-2, 3.49 ERA) has been the staff's ace, particularly in Sun Belt play, going 4-1 in conference games with strong outings against Old Dominion and Georgia Southern. Sophomore Ross Norman (4-5, 5.36 ERA) and freshman Jake Hembree (0-1, 6.18 ERA) round out the rotation and will look to neutralize a Southern Miss team that's hitting .304 in April.
Out of the bullpen, Jacob Crews (1-1, 2.84 ERA, six saves) and Tysen Benford (three saves, 3.94 ERA) will be key in holding late leads against an Eagles team that has multiple come-from-behind wins on the year.
Scouting Southern Miss
The Golden Eagles boast an impressive home record (15-4) and are led offensively by Nick Monistere and Carson Paetow, who have each belted 12 home runs. Monistere is coming off a scorching week where he earned Sun Belt Player of the Week honors after launching four homers and driving in 13 runs across two games.
Southern Miss's pitching staff, anchored by JB Middleton (6-1, 2.19 ERA), has posted strong numbers, particularly at home. The Golden Eagles are 10th nationally in sacrifice flies and feature a lineup filled with veterans, including preseason All-Sun Belt selections Ozzie Pratt and Davis Gillespie.
Series History & What's at Stake
This marks the first meeting in Hattiesburg between the two teams since 2000, with Georgia State holding a slight 3-2 edge in the all-time series. Last season, the Panthers won two of three at the GSU Baseball Complex, outscoring the Golden Eagles 46-30.
With the Sun Belt standings tightly packed, Georgia State can make a significant leap with a series win on the road. A strong showing would boost the Panthers in the standings and make a powerful statement heading into the season's final stretch.
