University of Tampa softball catcher Becky Vyzas may have broken her wrist in January, but it didn’t keep her down for long.
The injury occurred in what Vyzas described as a “freak accident” on Jan. 7 of this year.
Vyzas was sidelined for the first 13 games of the regular season as a result.
Junior Kristi Humphrey filled in at catcher, starting all 13 of those games and maintaining a 1.000 fielding percentage.
Since her return to the lineup, the sophomore has been on a tear, hitting .371 with two home runs and 23 total bases in 12 games.
Still, Vyzas sees more work to be done.
“I’m still working on my swing,” Vyzas said. “It’s not where it was last year.”
Vyzas is picking up where she left off last year when she turned in a remarkable freshman season.
She set team highs in batting average (.386), hits (44), doubles (eight), triples (six), home runs (five), slugging percentage (.693), RBI (24), walks (16) and total bases (79).
“It’s no secret she’s probably our best hitter,” UT head coach Leslie Kanter said. “We might have won a couple of the games she missed had she been in the lineup.”
Vyzas’s return proved valuable in a home game against conference rival Lynn on March 20. The Spartans trailed 4-1 and were one out away from defeat when UT loaded the bases for Vyzas.
The star delivered the ultimate blow, depositing a changeup for a walk-off grand slam to win it for Tampa and cap off a weekend sweep. Although please with the result she wasn’t trying to hit the ball out of the ballpark.
“I was nervous,” Vyzas said. “I just wanted to get a hit to score one or two runs, then Brittany Hipple would bring the rest of them in.”
Kanter added to the experience.
“It was exciting,” Kanter said. “To hit a changeup out of the deepest part of the ballpark like she did shows how strong she is.”
Vyzas only got better last weekend at Florida Tech.
Her 6-10 weekend included a double, a triple, her second home run of the season and two runs batted in.
UT won two of the three games in the series.
Despite Vyzas’s extended absence, Kanter said the rest of the Spartan lineup felt no extra pressure.
“There are a lot of new players this season who didn’t really know what she could do until she was back,” Kanter said.
Now that Vyzas has again proven herself as a lethal hitter, the team appears confident going forward.
“It’s great to have her back,” Kanter said.
Ryan Burkett can be reached at rburkett@ut.edu.