Olivia Dunne may not have even been in the stands at loanDepot Park on Sunday night, but she managed to command the digital conversation even as the highest-stakes game of the year unfolded on the diamond.
The social media powerhouse and LSU gymnast stole the spotlight from a star-studded Team USA roster, rocking a custom outfit to support her boyfriend, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, during the World Baseball Classic semifinals.
Dunne shared her “Game Day” look with her millions of followers, sporting a white tank top featuring Skenes’ signature number 30, paired with denim, light-colored boots, and a patriotic red sweatshirt.
Captioned simply with “LET’S GO USA!”, the post immediately went viral, rivaling the intensity of the action taking place on the field in Miami.
Skenes delivers a postseason masterpiece
While Dunne captured the attention of the fans, Skenes captured the Dominican Republic’s bats. The reigning National League Cy Young winner lived up to his “ace” billing, navigating one of the most dangerous lineups in international baseball.
Skenes tossed 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball, surrendering six hits while striking out several of the tournament’s premier sluggers.
His ability to neutralize the Dominican Republic’s power gave the American offense just enough breathing room to provide the necessary support.
Clutch offense and a return to the finals
The United States relied on a “small ball” approach and stellar defense to grind out the 2-1 victory. The scoring summary included:
- The Long Ball: Both teams traded solo home runs early to keep the game deadlocked.
- Clutch Production: Young stars Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony provided the offensive sparks needed to push the go-ahead run across.
- Lockdown Defense: The American bullpen preserved Skenes’ hard-fought lead to slam the door on the Dominican Republic’s comeback hopes.
A shot at a third title
With the win, the United States has officially reached its third consecutive World Baseball Classic final, a testament to the program’s modern dominance. The Americans previously took home the gold in 2017 and finished as runners-up in 2023.
Team USA now sits just one win away from their second WBC championship. They are scheduled to face the winner of the other semifinal matchup between Italy and Venezuela in Tuesday’s winner-take-all title game.
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