It came on a change-up.

It was the pitch Lindsay Taylor had spent the first half of the season fine-tuning, learning to hit different spots under the guidance of Syracuse record-holder-turned-coach Jenna Caira. The former ace called on Taylor to improve the pitch and Taylor answered, showing drastic improvement in a brief amount of time.

But this time, during Syracuse’s first game against Hawaii at the Spring Fling Tournament, Taylor wound up and released, only to have the ball come straight back and nail her in the ankle.

A teammate finished off the play to close the rotation, allowing Taylor to hobble off of the field with a bruised leg. The pain persisted, but Taylor battled through the minor setback and played through the week’s remaining games, excelling in the championship game against Hawaii in which she pitched 12 straight innings — including seven hitless ones. In her second season at Syracuse, Taylor has made 18 pitching appearances, managing a 1.93 ERA.

Syracuse eventually fell to Hawaii in the tournament finale, but Taylor’s ability to remain unfazed by the minor injury and pitch consecutive innings on a hurt leg is a testament to the sophomore’s mental toughness, senior shortstop Morgan Nandin said. It’s the type of mental toughness that’s been a bright spot for a young Syracuse team haunted by inconsistency and inexperience all season.

“It’s hard to learn that, and she came into her freshman year having that confidence and having that presence on the mound,” Nandin said. “She’s probably one of the most mentally tough people I’ve met on the field.”

Taylor’s grit and toughness were on display once more Saturday, when she surrendered just two hits in seven innings on a still-swollen leg, playing an important role in the Orange’s victorious home-opener. Playful and joking with teammates during pregame warm-ups, Taylor was all business the moment she stepped into the circle.

She struggled through the opening innings — head coach Leigh Ross attributed it to the hefty amount of innings Taylor clocked in Hawaii — but managed to stay composed after giving up a home run to Harvard.

After teammate Shirley Daniels hit a home run that permanently gave Syracuse the lead, Ross turned to Taylor to close out the game and told her, “We need you to go out there and close the door. Shut them down.”

Taylor did just that for a team that has allowed opponents to crawl back into winning position following big plays.

For Caira, who, last season, played as a senior when Taylor was a freshman, it’s been a welcome experience to watch her former teammate blossom.

“She’s grown not only physically on the mound, she’s throwing different pitches,” Caira said, “but more so as a leader.”

In Hawaii, Taylor didn’t let her leg hamper her, knowing her team depended on her play. She embraces the heightened role and added pressure that’s come with the season, and recognizes the importance of those moments.

“I don’t feel pressured in situations,” she said. “Those are the type of situations I want to be in.”

Published on March 27, 2013 at 1:08 am

Contact Debbie: dbtruong@syr.edu | @debbietruong