The score was tied when Andrew Schwaab took the mound.
It was the fifth inning of the Missouri baseball’s Saturday rubber match against Alabama. Peter Fairbanks had given up three hits and plunked two batters in a three-run third and would have been in line for the loss were it not for a three-run rallying effort by the Tiger offense in the fourth.
Schwaab inherited runners on first and third, but promptly induced a groundout to end the inning. He surrendered one hit and struck out three over 3.1 innings. Josh Lester’s two-run home run in the sixth gave Mizzou a 5-3 lead and Schwaab the right to the win.
Come the ninth inning, enter Breckin Williams. It was, as always, his game to save.
A junior, Williams has proved himself capable of handling the added pressure that comes with the closer’s role. Williams sports a 1.96 ERA and has held opposing batters to a .214 average. He’s tied the ribbon around 10 Tiger wins this year, his save total just two short of the program’s single-season record set by Ryan Stegall in 2000.
“It says a lot about (Williams) and the growth he’s made here,” Missouri coach Tim Jamieson said.
A ground ball to second. Brett Peel tosses to Zach Lavy. One out.
“It’s pretty cool whenever people go crazy and see (Williams sprinting out of the bullpen),” Schwaab said. “It’s always nice to have that spark, especially going into the ninth with the three hardest outs to get.”
A strikeout, but the ball gets away from the catcher. Jack Klages recovers and throws to first. Two outs.
Mizzou has been in 12 one-run games this year. The team owns a 9-3 record in them, thanks in part to Williams’ consistency. Jamieson has time and again called on Williams to shut the door in the ninth. Time and again, Williams has delivered.
“We have a lot of confidence in Breckin,” Schwaab said. “We all love seeing him out there. He’s got good stuff.”
A second ground ball, this time to Ryan Howard. The shortstop fields and throws a strike to Lavy. Three outs. Game over.
Tally another save for Williams.
With 10 to his name and 14 games to be played, the Tigers’ closer will have a chance to set the single-season record.
“We’ve got a bunch of games left and my guess is that he’ll have a bunch more (saves),” Jamieson said. “I’d like him to not have any more saves and be winning games by a greater margin.”
