Indiana State University Athletics

2026: Apr. 6 MVC Freshman of the Week … Mar. 23 MVC Freshman of the Week … Finished sixth in the MVC in triples (3) … Finished ninth in the MVC in assists (118) … Lined up in 38 games with 37 starts … Posted a .254/.451/.345 slash line over the 2026 season … Recorded 36 hits in 142 at-bats … Connected on 15 extra-base hits with seven doubles, three triples, and five home runs … Scored 29 runs and drove in 28 RBIs … Drew 18 walks and was hit by four pitches … Connected on four sacrifice flies and six sacrifice hits … Was 2-for-3 in stolen base attempts … Finished the season with 11 multi-hit games … Recorded seven multi-RBI contests … Season-high eight-game hitting streak from  March 28 – April 7 … Season-high 10-game on-base streak from April 10 – April 21 … Made his Indiana State debut on March 10 at Vanderbilt … Homered against Bradley, Valparaiso (twice), UIC, and Belmont … Went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored on April 7 at Illinois … Season-high five RBIs after going 2-for-3 with a double and a home run on March 20 at Valparaiso … Went 2-for-5 with a home run, four RBIs, and three runs scored on April 2 against UIC … Recorded a .962 fielding percentage over 186 chances with 61 putouts and 118 assists.

High School/Personal: Sander joins the Sycamores by way of Fisherville, Ky. and Trinity High School where he lined up under Coach Rick Arnold. He also played for the Louisville Legends under Coach Devin Hicks. Sander was an All-District selection on the diamond, while also earning All-State academic honors. He was a member of the National Honors Society and was on the Principal’s List.

Statistical highlights from his prep days include being a three-year starter at Trinity where he lined up both in the field and on the mound. He posted a .296 batting average, .440 on-base percentage, and .903 OPS, while adding 11 extra-base hits. On the mound, he recorded a 2.49 ERA and 1.373 WHIP.

In addition to baseball, he also played on the Trinity freshman basketball team. He’s the son of Mark and Ann-Marie Sander and plans on majoring in business at Indiana State.