Will Sanders

AWARDS

JUNIOR (2023)

Made 14 appearances with 11 starts for the Gamecocks his junior season
Was 4-4 with a save and 77 strikeouts in 62.2 innings pitched
Selected in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Chicago Cubs
Struck out 10 and allowed just three hits and three runs in six innings in a win over Florida (April 20)
Earned the save in the Columbia Regional championship game against Campbell (June 4), striking out six in three innings
In a win over Bethune-Cookman (March 10), struck out eight in six innings of work
Picked up the win at Vanderbilt (April 14), striking out four in five innings
Had four strikeouts in three innings in a win over No. 1 LSU (April 6)
Pitched seven innings at Georgia (March 18), striking out six and allowing four runs in a no-decision
Had two strikeouts in an inning in the Columbia Regional opener against Central Connecticut State (June 2)

SOPHOMORE (2022)

Started 15 games on the mound for the Gamecocks
Was 7-3 with a 3.43 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 89.1 innings pitched
Had 53 strikeouts in 57.1 innings in SEC games
Finished fifth in the league in innings pitched and 10th in both ERA and strikeouts
Struck out a career high 14 batters in seven innings against Clemson (March 4)
Won the Tom Price Award as the Most Valuable Player for the Gamecocks in the Clemson series
Had 11 strikeouts in seven innings pitched in a win over Vanderbilt (March 25)
Made the start on Opening Day, allowing one run and three hits in five innings in a win over UNC Greensboro (Feb. 18)
Earned the win over Georgia (April 9), striking out nine in 6.1 innings
Pitched seven innings vs. Florida in the SEC Tournament (May 24), striking out 10 and allowing four hits and an unearned run
Pitched at least seven innings in seven of the 15 starts
Picked up the win over Alabama (April 30), striking out eight in seven innings
In the win over No. 1 Texas (March 13), struck out six and allowed just two runs on four hits

FRESHMAN (2021)

Made 22 appearances with 10 starts for the Gamecocks his freshman season
Went 6-3 with a 3.54 ERA, a save and 54 strikeouts in 53.1 innings pitched
Was part of a combined three shutouts on the season
Went eight innings, allowing just one run with four strikeouts and no walks in a win over Georgia (April 4)
Earned wins in back-to-back games against Clemson (Feb. 27-28), combining to pitch 1.2 innings of hitless relief
Earned the win at LSU (April 17), striking out four in six scoreless innings
Had a season high 10 strikeouts, allowing just one hit in five innings in a win over The Citadel (March 23)
Struck out six in four innings in a win against Florida (March 28)
Had three strikeouts in 1.1 innings of relief in the NCAA Regional game against Old Dominion (June 5)
Had six punchouts in four innings against Missouri (April 11)
Was selected to play for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team in the summer

HIGH SCHOOL

Attended Woodward Academy in Atlanta, Ga., where he helped the War Eagles to a quarterfinal berth in the 4A state playoffs in 2019
Under Armour All-American (2019)
Georgia Dugout Preview Magazine 4A All-State first team (2019)
Perfect Game Preseason All-Southeast Region first team (2020)
Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-America first team (2019)
Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-America honorable mention (2018)
Played in the Perfect Game All-American Classic and the Under Armour All-American Game in 2019
Was the No. 2 ranked right-handed pitcher and No. 3 overall player in the state of Georgia in the class of 2020 by Perfect Game
Also ranked No. 58 player in the country and the No. 18 RHP in the 2020 class by Perfect Game
No. 200 on Baseball America’s Top 500 Players for the 2020 MLB Draft
Played summer baseball for the East Cobb Astros