Olivia Dunne praised her boyfriend Paul Skenes as she watched him start his Major League Baseball career in impressive fashion Saturday afternoon.
Pittsburgh’s game against the Chicago Cubs was dubbed ‘Skenes Day’ as the number one overall prospect made his first big league start, and Dunne was on hand to watch the action from the stands.
In the third inning, the LSU gymnastics star, decked out in a custom Skenes jacket, was interviewed live by Sportsnet Pittsburgh and was full of admiration for her other half.
“I felt some nerves at first, but I channeled them into excitement instead of nerves, and I have the utmost confidence in him,” she began. ‘I just trust him and what he’s brought to the table, and I’m very excited.
‘It’s incredible, the support here is incredible. Pittsburgh has been very welcoming. I just see people wearing Air Force stuff, LSU stuff, Skenes jerseys.
Olivia Dunne (right) watches as her boyfriend Paul Skenes makes his MLB debut on Saturday.
Dunne joined the live TV broadcast to praise her groom on his big day.
Dunne said she was nervous but had managed to channel it into excitement for Skenes’ debut.
Skenes gave up a solo home run, but otherwise enjoyed a very impressive first outing.
Speaking of the moment Skenes got the call to join the Pirates in the majors, Dunne added: “All I can say is I think it’s the quickest I’ve ever packed up in my life.”
‘We woke up from a nap, he had some missed calls and they called him. He said, “let’s pack our bags” and then we were on our way. It was very exciting!
“I have so many amazing memories with him, but I know how hard he has worked to get to this moment. This is probably one of my favorite moments I have ever seen in my life, seriously, there is nothing that can top this. I am so proud!’
In the field, Skenes enjoyed a truly impressive debut on the mound, despite giving up a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning.
In the crowd, fans held signs of Skenes and Dunne, baseball’s new power couple.
Dunne even had a Skenes badge on her shirt as she showed her support for her boyfriend.
Skenes throws a pitch in the first inning of his Major League career for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He also struck out seven in his first four major league innings as Pittsburgh took a 6-1 lead.
He was pulled in the fifth and received a standing ovation from the crowd, immediately after they booed the decision to remove him from the game.
The right-hander burst into the national consciousness last year while at Louisiana State University, where he was named National D1 Player of the Year and won the College World Series.
The 6-foot-6 pitcher has been under the microscope since long before his call-up to the major leagues, thanks to his performances on the mound and his relationship with Dunne.
The couple, who met at LSU, first went public with their romance in August of last year.
The LSU gymnast wore a jacket in Pirates colors and with the pitcher’s name on the sleeve.
The social media sensation celebrated her boyfriend’s call-up to the majors this week.
Skenes attracted attention with his performances in the minors, where he added new weapons to his arsenal en route to posting a 0.99 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings with Triple-A Indianapolis.
the recently allowed his first home run in a professional baseball game while pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates‘Triple-A affiliate.
Skenes, 21, allowed a solo home run to Buffalo outfielder Will Robertson, a Toronto Blue Jays prospect, in the fifth inning of the Indianapolis Indians’ 8-3 victory Sunday against the Bisons.
Some have called Skenes the best pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg. Meanwhile, Dunne helped LSU win a national championship his senior year.