The 2016 Georgia State baseball season began on Feb. 19 as the team defeated Western Michigan 3-2 at the GSU Baseball Complex. Freshman Israel Zackery finished his first collegiate game with a walkoff single that won the game for the Panthers. This home opener was one of the three games played by the Panthers in the Atlanta Challenge.
Continuing on in the Atlanta Challenge, Georgia State faced VCU on Feb. 20. The Panthers started strong with a 3-0 lead at the end of the first inning. VCU answered to this lead by scoring two runs in the fourth, creating a score of 3-2.