Olivia Dunne, the former LSU Tigers gymnast, was in the stands to support her boyfriend, Paul Skenes, as he made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.
Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, had an impressive start, striking out seven batters over four innings, contributing to a victory over the Chicago Cubs.
During the game, Dunne shared her thoughts in an interview, expressing the challenges of being a spectator rather than a participant. “I always say, it’s way harder to be the person in the stands watching because I’m not in control,” she said. “I can’t control — I don’t know how to throw a 100 mile (per hour) fastball, but it’s hard to have no control. Especially with gymnastics when you’re just watching. But I know he’s got this and I just have a lot of confidence in him.”
Excitement about Dunne’s presence at the game was evident among Pirates fans, one of whom sported a customized Dunne No. 69 jersey. Skenes, who transferred to LSU from Air Force, met Dunne during their time in Baton Rouge, and they have been together for about a year.
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With Dunne’s enthusiastic support, it’s expected that she will be a regular fixture at Pirates games throughout the season.
