Under the starlight of a Las Vegas sky, the atmosphere of a family reunion permeated the… Under the starlight of a Las Vegas sky, the atmosphere of a family reunion permeated the field.

Mother, father, brother, aunts, uncles and cousins took over the stands at Eller Media Stadium at the University of Las Vegas as the Pitt softball team took on UNLV in a tournament contest.

For then-sophomore pitcher Kayla Zinger, it was a homecoming of sorts as the Phoenix, Ariz., native performed in front of her family.

“That was the one time where everyone in my family was able to see my play in my college career,” Zinger said. “Family is so important to me, and being in Las Vegas was the closest Pitt has ever played to Phoenix.”

Zinger, now a senior, has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments during her time at Pitt. She is currently tied for fourth place in Pitt history for career shutouts with six and holds the third-place spot for career ERA at 2.52.

Zinger might have a supportive family in Arizona, but she has also come to recognize her softball teammates as sisters in a somewhat less-sunny environment.

“When I first came to Pitt for an official visit, it rained the whole time,” Zinger said. “Still, the whole team and coaching staff was incredibly welcoming and tight-knit, just like my own family.”

Zinger has been around competitive softball for years, including her participation in club and travel organizations in high school. Again, the athletic event became a family affair.

“My brother played travel baseball, as well. So both of my parents were heavily involved with our practice and playing schedules,” Zinger said.

Even in her freshman season, Zinger was able to find her role within the Pitt softball family, as she appeared in 26 games as a first-year pitcher.

“Coming into that first season, I knew that I would have to be ready to contribute,” Zinger said. “But pitching at the collegiate level is a whole different mental game.”

But as in most families, the older “siblings” offered their veteran advice to Zinger as she developed into a vital part of Pitt’s roster.

“I remember coming in as a freshman, and senior pitcher Meghan Bostick really took me under her wing and always seemed to know what to say to me to calm me down when I became frustrated,” Zinger said.

Now, three years later, Zinger herself represents the veteran leadership on the Panther team as one of only two seniors and the only senior pitcher.

Zinger’s role has changed during her career as a Panther, partly because of “sisterly competition.”

As Zinger’s senior mentors graduated, two stellar freshman pitchers, Pitt recruited Cory Berliner and Alyssa O’Connell and offered a challenge to Zinger.

“There is always competition among teammates, but with us, it’s a friendly competition like you would have with a sister,” Zinger said. “It’s not brutal in any way, and ultimately, we all want the team to succeed.”

Berliner and O’Connell have become the two primary starting pitchers, but Zinger maintains a valuable role in relief pitching, as she has finished a team-high five games this season, including one save.

Yet nothing seems to compare to that first no-hitter that Zinger pitched in a Big East conference game against Connecticut in her sophomore season.

“The feeling after that game was just one of accomplishment and success,” Zinger said. “When I pitch like that, I feel like I did my job.”

Zinger said she considers herself a student of the game and spends a great deal of time analyzing batters and their tendencies, hoping to win the “pitcher-batter battle.”

“Each batter that comes to the plate presents a different challenge, like a puzzle,” she said. “I try to adapt to that particular batter and do what I need to do to get the out, and when I do, it’s kind of an ‘Aha!’ feeling.”

Such commitment to the learning process comes naturally to Zinger, who will graduate with a degree in rehabilitation science.

After graduation, she will continue her education at Pitt in the Graduate School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences with the support of the George I. Carson Graduate Fellowship.

The Carson scholarship is available to students affiliated with athletics at Pitt and who will enroll in post-graduate education at the University.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to stay involved with the athletic program here at Pitt, whether in helping out at softball practice or tutoring student-athletes,” Zinger said. “The family of student-athletes at Pitt really transcends teams, and all of us get to know each other.”

Zinger noted that all the athletes are grouped together and that “it just makes sense” to form relationships. In particular, she has become close with many members of the women’s volleyball team.

She is quick to mention the fun that comes with participating in athletics, but she still sets high goals for herself and for her team.

“It is always my goal to go out and pitch with as low of an ERA as possible so that I can give our offense a chance to score runs and win the game,” Zinger said. “Excellent personal statistics are nice to have, but they do not mean much without that team victory.”

In contributing this year, Zinger said she hopes Pitt can once again earn a place in the Big East championship. The Panthers qualified for the tournament during Zinger’s freshman and sophomore seasons but fell short last year.

“We are looking to get back to the championships this year,” Zinger said, “and I think that this year’s team has the chemistry to do that.”

Though far from home, Zinger has garnered the support of both her original family and her “adopted” team family.

Her parents and her brother set aside time each season to attend one game and one tournament, and her father is currently in Pittsburgh to see her play.

“My dad always saves his vacation time for softball season,” Zinger said with a smile.

Still, in his absence, Zinger’s Pitt family provides her with the motivation and friendship on which she thrives to pitch a lights-out game.