Baseball: 45 Days until First Pitch - #45 Taylor Sandefur

#45 Taylor Sandefur



Class:  RS Senior
Hometown:  Mechanicsville, Va.
High School:  Atlee HS
Height / Weight:  6-1 / 225
Position:  RHP
B/T:  R/R

2013 (Redshirt Junior): Returning from the shoulder injury that sidelined him in 2012, made seven appearances on the mound including four starts ... Posted a 5.27 ERA through 13.2 innings of work, striking out seven against eight walks ... Only three of the 16 hits allowed went for extra bases, all doubles ... Made his season debut by tossing two thirds of an inning of work on opening weekend against Pac-12 foe, Washington State (Feb. 16) ... Threw six solid innings against Longwood (Feb. 27), striking out four against two walks in picking up the win ... Made his second start of the season at SEC-foe, Georgia (March 5), limiting the Bulldogs to an unearned run on two hits despite walking four ... Tossed two innings in a limited starting role in WCU's road win at Kennesaw State (May 1); Summer League: Returned to the Waynesboro Generals of the Valley League where he pitched in seven games with three starts before leaving the squad at midseason ... Posted a 1-1 record with a 3.68 ERA through 22 innings of work ... Struck out 15 batters against six walks... Was named the Generals Player of the Week (June 17-23) after tossing five innings of two-hit relief in an 11-5 victory over Winchester on June 19 ... Additionally recorded four plate appearances, finishing 2-for-4 (.500) with a double and two strikeouts.

2012 (Junior): Suffered a shoulder injury during off-season drills in the fall of 2011 ... Missed the 2012 season after undergoing shoulder surgery ... Took a medical redshirt.

2011 (Sophomore): Appeared in 19 games - fifth on the team - including six starts (3rd) and 13 relief appearances out of the bullpen ... Tossed 43.2 innings on the season with a 2-3 overall record and an 8.86 ERA ... Ranked fourth on the team with 40 strikeouts, fanning at least one in 12 of his 19 appearances including four-or-more K's six times ... 17 of his strikeouts were looking ... Picked off two runners on the season ... Opened the season as a weekend starter with his first three starts coming on the weekend for WCU before being relegated to the bullpen ... Scored the victory in the season-opener against Morehead State (Feb. 18), striking out five in five innings of three-hit, scoreless work ... Twice matched his career-high of six strikeouts in the start at UNC Asheville (April 12) and in relief at home against ACC-foe, Clemson (April 27) ... Picked up his first career save by tossing two-thirds of an inning out of the bullpen as WCU downed Furman (May 13) in 16 innings ... Threw the final inning and a third, striking out one for the Catamounts in picking up the victory in the epic 20-inning game against Elon (May 25) in the conference championship event ... Pitched in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League during the summer.

2010 (Freshman): Pitched in 12 games including starting nine times, the most among WCU's freshmen hurlers ... Tossed 50.1 innings with a 5.19 ERA, striking out 24 against 30 walks ... Moved from a mid-week starter and bullpen pitcher into the Friday night starter role, making six-consecutive starts down the stretch in the season ... Made his first collegiate appearance at Gardner-Webb, surrendering one run on three hits with a pair of walks in two-thirds of an inning ... Made his first collegiate start against SIU-Edwardsville, walking three and striking out two in three innings of one-hit, three-run work in a no-decision ... Garnered his first collegiate career win after working five innings against High Point, limiting the Panthers to four runs on seven this with two strikeouts ... Twice fanned a career-best six including at Georgia Southern and in his final regular season start against Davidson ... Tossed a career-long 7.1 innings in the Southern Conference Tournament semifinals against Appalachian State, striking out on against two walks, only surrendering two runs on six hits ... WCU won eight of the 12 games in which he appeared including six of his starts ... Pitched alongside teammate Andrew Blackwell with the Waynesboro Generals of the Valley League during the summer ... Earned the Cy Young Award for most outstanding pitcher in the Valley League.

Prior to Western: Four year varsity member at Atlee High School in Mechanicsville, Va. ... Earned All-Academic honors during his four years at Atlee High School ... Earned All-District honors as a first baseman, utility player and pitcher during his three years at Atlee High School. Earned honorable mention all-region during his junior and senior seasons.

Personal: Full name is Taylor Kirkwood Sandefur ... Son of David and Donna Sandefur ... Father David played football at Lees-McRae College ... Brother, Ryan, played baseball at the University of Virginia.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations