Capable bullpen buoys Stanford
too hard. Like (head coach David Esquer) says, trying harder is not the answer. It’s just not.”
Williams entered the Pac-12 tournament late last month with an 8-1 record and 1.67 ERA. He’s now 8-3, 2.88.
Beginning with his 61⁄3-inning performance in a 1-0 win at Oregon State on April 1 through his four-hitter in a 7-1 win over USC on May 19, Williams put together an eight-start stretch in which he gave up three earned runs in 592⁄3 innings (0.45 ERA).
In his past three starts — against Arizona in the Pac-12 tournament, Texas State in the regional and Connecticut in the super regional — Williams allowed 15 earned runs in 102⁄3 innings (12.66 ERA).
Williams has given up six homers this season — five in the past three games.
Highlighted by lefties Ryan Bruno and Quinn Mathews, Stanford’s bullpen has thrived in the postseason. Relievers recorded 52 of the 54 outs in the Cardinal’s two wins over UConn.
Esquer probably won’t hesitate to go to the pen early if Williams runs into trouble.
“I think we’re going to watch Alex to see if he looks like he’s himself or not,” Esquer said. “I don’t think we can afford in a double-elimination tournament to ride someone out just to utilize his pitches. …
“The hitter will tell us whether (Williams is) closer to how he was virtually 90% of the season or if he’s still struggling with location and command.”
Mathews (9-1, 2.62 ERA, nine saves), a junior, began the season as a starter. Esquer moved him into the closer role in early May. Mathews allowed two runs in six innings of relief in an 8-4 win over UCSB in the regional, then worked the final three innings of each of the Cardinal’s wins over UConn. In those two games, he gave up a combined one run.
Bruno (6-1, 2.61 ERA), a sophomore, worked nine innings over five appearances in the regional and super regional. His numbers: one run, 17 strikeouts.
Williams appreciates what the bullpen has done for the team in general and for him in particular.
“What the younger guys have done for me to continue to give me more opportunities to pitch, I couldn’t be more thankful and more blessed,” Williams said. “I’m not going to take that for granted.”
Briefly: The other three teams on the Cardinal’s side of the CWS bracket are from the SEC: Arkansas, No. 14 Auburn and Mississippi. … The Cardinal beat Arkansas 5-0 on a chilly Feb. 27 in the Round Rock (Texas) Classic. Mathews struck out 10 and limited the Razorbacks to two hits in six innings. … Esquer was the starting shortstop on Stanford’s 1987 CWS champion team. He also was on the 1985 Cardinal team that got to Omaha but lost two of three games, the finale a 10-4 decision to Arkansas. … Right-hander Connor Noland (7-5, 3.86 ERA) will start for the Razorbacks against Stanford. He completed 21 of 42 passes as a freshman quarterback for Arkansas in 2018. … Lefty Jacob Palisch, who pitched in the CWS for Stanford last season, has returned to Omaha as a grad transfer for No. 5 Texas A&M, which lost 13-8 to Oklahoma on Friday. Palisch owns 6-3 record, five saves and a 2.60 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 52 innings for the Aggies.