South Carolina confident in Will Sanders after mental, physical reset

For the first time in just under two weeks, Will Sanders will stride to the mound and deliver a pitch in a competitive baseball game for South Carolina. 

When he does, he’ll be trying to shake off the cobwebs of what’s been an inconsistent start to his junior season. So much so South Carolina’s staff gave him a start off last weekend against Mississippi State. 

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It’s something the Gamecocks hope allowed Sanders to effectively hit the reset button and be at his best in a marquee series this weekend at Founders Park. 

“I’ve never seen a downside to giving a guy a chance to reset mentally and physically. It happens in the big leagues, happens in the minor leagues and happens in college. Sometimes guys need a chance to take a step back…That can help a player,” Mark Kingston said. 

“You clear your mind, make a couple of tweaks if necessary and you’re fresher for the next time you go out there on the field. For all those reasons I expect him to do well. How well? We’ll see. Things don’t happen overnight, generally, but I think we’ll see a good Will Sanders. And the rest of the year when Will Sanders is on the mound for us we’ll have a chance to win.” 

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Sanders, who entered the year as the Gamecocks’ Friday night starter, has struggled compared to expectations to start the year. 

In six starts (31.1 innings), he has a 5.17 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP while 17 of his 30 hits allowed this year went for extra bases. 

Sanders has allowed nine earned runs in 10.1 SEC innings this year while giving up nine hits: two singles, three doubles and four home runs.

His last start before the mental and physical reset was the shortest of the season with Sanders going just 3.1 innings, walking six and allowing five earned runs. 

Sanders has shown progress while building up to the LSU series, his teammates say. 

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“I think Will’s handled this how Will’s handled everything since he’s been here. Everyone is going to get punched in the mouth here at some point. Everyone knows their time is coming. But Will’s handled it the same way Will Sanders handles everything,” Jack Mahoney said.

“He’s kind of shut up, got back in the weight room and back on the mound. He’s reset everything and is in a good headspace right now. We’re excited for him to be back out there Thursday. At the end of the day, he’s been our horse for close to two years now. Will’s going to do Will and we support him.” 

And Sanders’ first start back will be against maybe his toughest test of the season. LSU offensively is slashing .337/.458/.597 as a team while plating a whopping 308 runs scored with 54 homers.

In nine SEC games the Tigers are also hitting .313/.416/.520 with 74 runs. 

Frontrunner for national player of the year Dylan Crews, who’s hitting .531 with nine homers in almost 100 at-bats, headlines this offense. In 35 SEC at-bats, he’s also hitting .543/.644/.914 with seven extra-base hits.

The Tigers have four other hitters also batting over .270 through nine SEC games: Jared Jones, Tommy White, Tre’ Morgan and Jordan Thompson.

It should be an electric test in what is a highly-anticipated series.

“They have some big-time, proven hitters…Dylan Crews is a candidate for national player of the year. They’ve added Tommy Tanks to the lineup,” Kingston said. “Tre Morgan, I’ve been impressed with him for a long time. They have a lot of hitters that are proven, tough outs, drive the ball and get on base. It’s a complete offense. You’re going to have to make pitches against them.”

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Series details

Who: No. 6 South Carolina (27-3, 8-1 SEC) vs. No. 1 LSU (25-4, 6-3 SEC)

When: Thursday, April 6 through Saturday, April 8

Game times (ET): Thursday and Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, noon

How to watch: Thursday and Friday, SEC Network Plus; Saturday, SEC Network

How to listen: 107.5 FM and the Gamecock Radio Network

Probable pitching

Thursday: RHP Will Sanders (2-1, 5.17 ERA) vs. RHP Paul Skenes (5-0, 0.81 ERA)

Friday: RHP Jack Mahoney (3-0, 2.72 ERA) vs. RHP Ty Floyd (5-0, 2.87 ERA)

Saturday: TBA vs. RHP Christian Little (2-1, 3.79 ERA)

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