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SEMO reliever 'has grown into a really old, good, veteran guy'
Monday, May 9, 2022
Southeast Missouri State pitcher Austin Williams throws against Tennessee Tech last season at Capaha Field.
Southeast Missourian file
The fact that Southeast Missouri State senior pitcher Austin Williams got roughed up in Sunday’s 15-3 loss at Oklahoma State can be dismissed as an anomaly.
First of all, The Cowboys (34-13) are ranked third in the country.
Secondly, the game was in Stillwater, Okla.
And thirdly, Williams hasn’t had a poor outing in nearly a month and has only been less than stellar in four of his 20 outings this season, with two of those coming in February.
“He’s been great,” veteran Redhawks coach Andy Sawyers said of Williams recently. “He’s 6-1 out of the bullpen for us (and) his one loss was in his start.”
Make that two losses in two starts, now.
Williams allowed six earned runs on six hits in three innings of work on Sunday, as Oklahoma State swept SEMO (30-16) with a 4-0 win on Friday and an 11-6 victory on Saturday.
The outing snapped a streak of five spectacular appearances by Williams dating back to an April 10 game against Murray State, and prior to that day, in which he gave up three earned runs, on three hits, in one inning, the right-hander had strung together 10 really impressive outings.
“His stuff has gotten a little better from where it was last year,” Sawyers said.
A year ago, Williams was throwing in the 88 m.p.h. to 91 m.p.h. range, but that has consistently crept up over 90 m.p.h. this season, with his top-end pitches touching 92 m.p.h., according to Sawyers.
“He has a very good breaking ball,” Sawyers continued, “and he commands it very well. He is pitching off the breaking ball.”
Williams has another season of eligibility with SEMO due to the Covid ruling by the NCAA, and his journey has been a circuitous one.
The Judsonia, Ark. native began his career at the NAIA program William Baptist, before spending a year at Three Rivers Community College.
He landed with the Redhawks, but the pandemic ended his first season in Cape Girardeau before he could even make an appearance.
In 22 games last season, he was solid, as he allowed 39 hits in as many innings while leading the Redhawks with six saves.
Prior to Sunday, Williams had allowed just 13 earned runs in 42 innings this season.
Sawyers cited an incredible outing Williams had in mid-April at Tennessee Tech, who at that point, was 19-12.
In five innings, Williams struck out nine Golden Eagles.
“Their coach came up to me after the game and said, ‘That was a big-league slider,’” Sawyers recalled, “and I said ‘It was tonight.’”
“He’s got a really good breaking ball,” Sawyers said, “and his fastball is a tick better, and he is old. He’s a fifth-year senior and he knows how to pitch.
“He’s not scared. He’s going to be able to throw you a (3-and-2 count) slider and not have to lay it in there for you. He’s just grown into being a really old, good, veteran guy.”
The Redhawks will return to Capaha Field for the first time in eight games on Tuesday at 5 p.m. against Missouri State (22-22).
The Bears took two of three games against SEMO in a March series in Springfield.
The Redhawks will resume Ohio Valley Conference play on Friday at 6 p.m. against UT Martin (10-32, 3-18) at Capaha Field.
SEMO (13-5 in OVC play) is tied for first place in the league with Belmont (31-16, 13-5). The Redhawks recently took two of three games against the Bruins in Nashville.