Will Sanders Looks For Bounce-back Performance Against LSU

Will Sanders, the ace starting pitcher for South Carolina's Baseball team, looks to get his 2023 season back on track against the No. 1 ranked LSU Tigers.

There are plenty of storylines to go around with South Carolina's baseball series this weekend against the LSU Tigers. How will the Gamecocks handle the challenge of facing the No. 1 team in the country? How will the LSU Tigers handle the hostile environment that is Founders Park? How will the weather hold up on both Friday and Saturday?

In the midst of all of these questions, there's one particular question that remains steadfast in the minds of Gamecock fans: how will Will Sanders fair in his start on Thursday night? That question comes off the heels of a week where Sanders didn't take the mound for the Gamecocks, something that South Carolina's fanbase isn't accustomed to with the preseason all-american.

After a tough start to his junior campaign, a start which saw Sanders post a 5.17 ERA in 31 and one-third innings pitched, head coach Mark Kingston felt it was best that Sanders take a seat for the Gamecocks series against the Mississippi State Bulldogs this past weekend, which based on his experience can help players hit the reset button.

"I've never seen a downside to giving a guy a chance to reset mentally and physically," Kingston explained at his Wednesday press conference. "Sometimes guys just need a chance to take a step back.Whether it's a hitter, whether it's a pitcher, that can help a player. It's just you clear your mind, you make a couple of tweaks if necessary, 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."

Of course, Sanders won't be facing the usual conference foe on Thursday night, as he'll go up against the like of Tommy White, Gavin Dugas and Dylan Crews, the latter of which is in the running for multiple national awards. Coach Kingston even hinted that game one against LSU might not be the moment where the proverbial light comes on for Will Sanders, but thinks his one-week sabbatical from mound will have an impact that goes beyond just the junior right-hander. 

"Things don't happen overnight generally, but I think we'll see a really good Will Sanders, and I think 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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