The New Orleans Privateers baseball team will begin their 2026 season with a three-game series against the Georgia State Panthers in Atlanta. The first game is scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. and will be broadcast on 106.7 FM The Ticket.
Andrew Gipson, who became the ninth head coach in program history last July, leads the Privateers into his third season as a collegiate head coach. Previously, Gipson spent two years at Belhaven, where he achieved 59 wins and guided the Blazers to a Super Regional appearance in 2025.
The Privateers’ lineup features significant changes this year following the departure of six starters due to graduation or transfers. Last season, New Orleans ranked near the top of their league in home runs, slugging percentage, and total bases.
Reid Leonard, a transfer from Chattanooga State and two-time All-Conference selection, is set to start the season opener. Leonard recorded 135 strikeouts over 125.2 innings across 33 appearances during his previous stint.
Adrian Dominguez returns after hitting .393 last season with seven doubles and 15 RBIs over just 61 at-bats. He was particularly effective as a pinch hitter, collecting half of his hits in those situations.
This series marks the eighth meeting between New Orleans and Georgia State but is the first time Georgia State will host. The Panthers lead the all-time series 4-3; however, New Orleans won two out of three games when they met at Maestri Field in 2024.
Georgia State enters this season with a roster that includes 20 returning players and 22 newcomers. Last year, they finished with a record of 26 wins overall and an 11-19 mark in Sun Belt Conference play. Cole Roberts led their pitching staff with six wins and an ERA of 4.69, while Carter Bailey, Wills Maginnis, and Jae Williams contributed a combined total of 106 RBIs offensively during the previous campaign.
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