LSU softball opponents beware — the Tigers have a lethal weapon in Tessa Lynam.
Tiger head coach Yvette Girouard likes the dimensions Lynam adds to the team. Girouard knew Lynam had tremendous ability as a pitcher and from the plate when she arrived at LSU last year, but she was pleasantly surprised with Lynam’s ability to play first base. She started 55 games at the position for LSU as a freshman last season and did not commit a single error all year.
“It’s incredible how much they mature in a year. We kind of stuck her on defense last year and thought oops, but now it’s so much more natural for her,” Girouard said. “She’s a ball player and makes coaches look good.”
The Alpharetta, Ga., native suffered a broken left hand Jan. 29 while charging for a pop fly in practice. All reports had Lynam missing at least three weeks of action, but a day before the first regular season game, Lynam was cleared to pitch. The sophomore placed a glove over the cast and made her first collegiate start in the circle against Stephen F. Austin. She pitched seven innings and struck out seven batters as she earned her first win in a 3-1 victory.
“I thought I was going to be out for at least a good three weeks, not even be able to pitch,” Lynam said. “I was really happy when the doctor told me … I would be able to pitch.”
Lynam wore the cast for only three weeks and said the doctor attributed the rapid recovery to new bone growth in her hand. During that stretch, Lynam posted a 6-0 record for the Tigers.
“Obviously I wouldn’t be able to hit, so I needed to do the best I could pitching in order to help my team out,” Lynam said.
Girouard said Lynam’s play during the injury is proof the sophomore is a great competitor.
“There’s a player who is playing with a cast on her hand,” Girouard said. “I believe all great athletes play with some type of injury at some point in their careers.”
LSU unleashed Lynam the batter Feb. 28 against Houston, nearly a month after the injury. She leads the team with a .423 batting average and is tied for second with 13 RBIs, including four doubles in nine games since being cleared to bat.
The ability of Lynam to change the game with one swing of the bat excites Girouard. The Tigers still await Lynam’s first home run of the season, since she led the team with nine homers last season.
“She’s an offensive weapon for us. Any time she steps up to the plate she can hit it out of the park or get us that most valuable RBI,” Girouard said. “We tell our players to go up there with the mentality that the bat is a weapon, and with Tessa she’s swinging a weapon.”
Even with an 8-1 record as a pitcher and leading the team in batting, Lynam still seeks to improve her game.
“I love playing the game so much, and I just want to get better,” Lynam said. “I want to do whatever I can for my team.”