Catch Georgia State baseball in Decatur

Despite the university and all its other sports stadiums being concentrated near downtown Atlanta, Georgia State University’s NCAA baseball team plays its home games in DeKalb County.

The Georgia State Panthers’ baseball team, part of the Sun Belt Conference, have already hosted 18 games at home this season. Local fans have had a good chance to see the team win games there, as the Panthers had a 15-3 record at press time in games played at 2819 Clifton Springs Road in Decatur.

The Panthers are led on offense by Kaleb Freeman, who is one of the best sluggers in the nation. He is top 10 in the Sun Belt Conference in batting average with eight home runs under his belt. Freeman is also No. 2 in the Sun Belt in slugging percentage, No. 3 in on base percentage, No. 2 in runs batted in, No. 1 in doubles, No. 6 in home runs, No. 1 in total bases, No. 1 in walks, and No. 3 in runs scored.

Other Panthers shining at the plate include the Maginnis brothers, Michael Maginnis and William Maginnis. William Maginnis is No. 2 in the conference in runs scored and hits, while Michael Maginnis is No. 8 in runs scored. Despite Freeman’s hot start, Colin Hynek and Jesse Donohoe have hit more home runs – adding to the Panthers’ offensive ability.

Michael Maginnis also tied a Georgia State record for most stolen bases in a single game with five stolen bases on March 25.

The Panthers have scored in double digits in 12 of their 21 games, including a 17-10 game against No. 6 UGA and a 15-14 win against South Alabama in Decatur. Georgia State also hosted No. 6 UGA in February, dropping the game 7-3. Jae Williams and Bailey Carter hit home runs in the 10-point effort against UGA, while Cole Roberts struck out six UGA Bulldog batters.

Roberts has helped lead the charge on the mound for Georgia State, with an ERA of 3.96. He is also top 10 in the conference in opposing batting average at .216 and is second in the conference in innings pitched. He’s assisted by fellow pitchers Caleb White, who has struck out the second most batters in the conference, and Norman Ross, who joins White and Roberts in the top 10 for batters struck out in the Sun Belt Conference. Cole and White are also tied for the most wins for a pitcher in the conference this season.

The Panthers have recently started conference play with a 4-2 record. The team has 13 games left to play at home, scheduled from now until May 17 on various weekdays and weekends.

Tickets can be purchased at the gate for Georgia State baseball games, as well as on the georgiastatesports.com website. Gates open 90 minutes before first pitch, according to the team’s website, and the school allows fans to watch batting practice.

In 2024, Georgia State University approved plans to build and move baseball operations to a new stadium located closer to downtown Atlanta.