BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Sophomore left hander Jackson Sanders has been named the Southeastern Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week after his career-best start Saturday vs. Winthrop, the league office announced Monday.
It marks the third straight week and Auburn player has been recognized by the conference after Ethin Bingaman and Mason McCraine earned back-to-back SEC Freshman of the Week honors. Sanders is Auburn’s first SEC Pitcher of the Week since Carson Myers earned the recognition following opening weekend of the 2024 season.
The Opelika native led Auburn to a series-clinching win against Winthrop with a career-best outing of 7.0 scoreless innings and 10 strikeouts. He retired nine straight batters with seven strikeouts from the third through the fifth innings and recorded his career-best 10th strikeout in the sixth.
Getting ahead in the count against 16 of the 22 batters he faced, Sanders threw 61 of his 82 pitches for strikes (74 percent) and didn’t allow a hit after the second inning. He faced just one batter over the minimum in his career-long outing.
Sanders has recorded career highs in strikeouts in three of his four starts this season and is 2-0 with a 3.22 ERA and 33 strikeouts compared to four walks in 22.1 innings pitched.
Sanders and the No. 5 Tigers (13-2) wrap up a nine-game homestand vs. UAB (10-6) Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT before starting SEC play at Missouri this weekend.