Rain Threatens Saturday Showdown Between Hot Buccaneers, Panthers

DECATUR, Ga. (Interstat) — A weather front carrying rain and the Charleston Southern Buccaneers, one of the nation’s hottest early-season teams, arrives at the Georgia State Baseball Complex on Saturday.

The Buccaneers (10-2), winners of 10 of their last 12, will face the Georgia State Panthers (9-5) in an afternoon contest forecast for 80-degree temperatures and wet conditions. The teams opened their weekend series Friday, with Georgia State winning 1-0.

Charleston Southern brings a potent offense that has scored 10 or more runs in six games this season, including a recent 10-1 stretch. Their momentum was slowed only by a 4-1 midweek loss at South Carolina on Wednesday. Georgia State seeks consistency after splitting a four-game series at Belmont last weekend and falling 4-1 to Georgia Tech on Tuesday.

A key matchup could feature Charleston Southern reliever Zach Stichweh, who has been dominant lately. In his last outing against South Carolina, he threw three perfect innings with four strikeouts. Over his last three appearances, he has 10 strikeouts in 6.1 innings.

Georgia State will counter with right-hander Cole Roberts, who has been effective in two appearances against Georgia Tech this season. He tossed five strong innings, allowing two earned runs with six strikeouts, in Tuesday’s loss after throwing four scoreless frames in a win over the Yellow Jackets on Feb. 24.

The Panthers’ bullpen, including Jacob Crews and William Petteys, provided solid relief in the midweek loss. Charleston Southern’s pitching staff, beyond Stichweh, saw Christian Krause and Aydan Smith combine for four scoreless innings against the Gamecocks.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a high-scoring affair, favoring Charleston Southern 8-6.

First pitch is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, though rain in the forecast could impact play. The series concludes Sunday.