GEORGIA STATE (24-27, 12-15) vs APP STATE (29-20, 16-11)
May 14-16 | ESPN+ | GSU Baseball Complex
 

Probable Pitching Matchups

Thursday – 6 p.m. ESPN+
App State: #28 RHP Nick DiRito (4.44 ERA)
Georgia State: #25 RHP Will Bartkoski (3.14 ERA)

Friday – 6 p.m. ESPN+
App State: #42 RHP Gage Peterson (3.12 ERA)
Georgia State: #20 RHP Michael Caruso (5.13 ERA)

Saturday – 1 p.m. ESPN+
App State: TBA
Georgia State: TBA

Panthers at the Plate

Georgia State is hitting .265 as a team with 316 runs, 448 hits, and 33 home runs this season.

John Beverley continues to lead the Panthers offensively, hitting .377 with four home runs, 38 RBI, and 33 stolen bases. Beverley leads the Sun Belt in stolen bases and ranks among the top players nationally in the category.

Wills Maginnis is hitting .301 with seven home runs, 40 RBI, and 19 stolen bases, while Hunter Carlson leads the team with 42 RBI and is tied for the team lead with seven home runs. Wesley Bass has added a .325 average and .932 OPS, while Adam Haber is batting .297 with 10 doubles.

Panthers on the Mound

Georgia State enters the series with a 6.22 team ERA and 404 strikeouts.

Will Bartkoski is scheduled to start on Thursday for the Panthers. The right-hander has been one of Georgia State's top arms this season, posting a 5-1 record with a 3.14 ERA, four saves, and 45 strikeouts.

Michael Caruso will start on Friday and leads the Panthers with six wins. Caruso has thrown 59.2 innings and is tied for the team lead with 52 strikeouts.

Scouting App State

App State enters the weekend with the top offense in the Sun Belt, leading the conference in batting average and runs scored.

The Mountaineers are hitting .316 as a team with 406 runs, 534 hits, and 40 home runs. Charlie Evans leads the team with a .376 average, while Drew DuPont is hitting .378, and Steven Smith is batting .371 with 49 RBI. Ethan Puig has also been a key run producer, hitting .333 with 43 RBI.

On the mound, App State holds a 5.45 team ERA with 411 strikeouts. Gage Peterson leads the staff with an 8-0 record, 3.12 ERA and 94 strikeouts, while Nick DiRito has posted a 4-1 record with a 4.44 ERA.

Series Outlook

The final weekend carries postseason implications for Georgia State as the Panthers look to secure their place in the Sun Belt Championship.

The matchup will test Georgia State's pitching staff against the league's top offense. Limiting big innings and continuing to create pressure offensively will be key for the Panthers as they close the regular season at home.