Softball Adds Nester, Transfer from NC State

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall softball head coach Megan Smith Lyon announced the addition of redshirt junior Sydney Nester, a right-handed pitcher from North Carolina State.

Nester starred in the circle for the Wolfpack over three seasons. She has had plenty of experience pitching against top teams with 103 innings in her career against programs either ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes. Nester will have two years of eligibility remaining.

"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Sydney to our Herd Family," coach Smith Lyon said. "She is an extremely talented pitcher, who is a proven winner against elite level competition. We foresee her making a huge and immediate impact on our program."

"I chose Marshall because, from the very first email from coach (Maddie) Holub, it was personal," Nester said. "I developed an easy, positive relationship with the coaches and the University had the exact Master's degree in Communication Studies that I wanted to pursue. I was very impressed with the facilities and Marshall's investment into the softball program and, more importantly, the team is full of hitters. I am ready to do my part for Marshall softball."

While starring on the field, Nester graduated with her bachelor's degree in sport management in just three years.

During those three seasons with NC State, Nester was already in the top 10 in several pitching categories. She is fourth in career strikeouts per seven innings (7.06), sixth in wins (31), sixth in strikeouts (344), seventh in career lowest opponent batting average (.227) and 10th in career ERA (3.32).

As a freshman in 2019, Nester appeared in 37 games with 20 starts and finished with a 14-8 record. The Hillsville, Va., native totaled 152 strikeouts in 149.2 innings, good for fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference. She was named ACC Pitcher of the Week on March 12 after allowing zero runs in four appearances with three starts and 40 strikeouts. Nester tossed her first career no-hitter on March 9 against the College of Charleston going all seven innings and a career-best 15 strikeouts.

In just her third collegiate appearance, Nester went the distance in a 4-1 victory over No. 6 Arizona. She scattered seven hits over seven innings and struck out five.

In the shortened 2020 season, the right-hander appeared in 17 games with 12 starts and finished with a 10-4 record. Nester was one of just two pitchers in the ACC to finish 2020 with double-digit victories. She ranked 21st in the NCAA with 10 wins and 40th in strikeouts with 89. Nester was ranked as the No. 39 pitcher in D1 Softball's Top 100 Analytical Rankings. She was also ranked as the No. 87 player in SoftballAmerica's Shortened Season Top 100 Players list as she led the Wolfpack in nearly every pitching category.

Nester tallied eight strikeouts in a complete game win over No. 21 Ole Miss to open the 2020 season. She recorded two wins over (RV) Ohio State and struck out a season-best 10 in an eight-inning victory over Indiana. Nester closed out the 2020 season with two more complete-games wins over (RV) Notre Dame, allowing just three runs and totaling 13 strikeouts.

In 2021 she tossed 105 innings and won seven more games. Nester led the team with 102 strikeouts and 29 appearances. She had a season-high nine strikeouts in just five innings against Gardner-Webb.

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