Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
3-1
Butler
1-4
Herd Softball Overpowers Butler to Finish Winning Opening Weekend
2/12/2023 1:29:00 PM | Softball
Sydney Nester wins third start in three days to start season
LEESBURG, Fla. — For the third time in three days, Sydney Nester pitched the Marshall softball team (3-1) to a complete-game victory.Â
For the third time in three days, the senior from Hillsville, Va. struck out over eight batters, leading the Herd to a 7-3 win over Butler.
"We knew there would be tough competition down here in Florida this weekend," Nester said. "I knew coming down here that I wanted to take the reins for the staff. When my name was called this weekend, I knew I had to do a job. Any time I took the circle, I made sure I gave my best and worked with my teammates, just a heck of a weekend!"
Nester's teammates on offense worked well on Sunday with two-out hitting. Marshall had 11 two-out hits, including five in the six-run 3rd.  Â
With the Herd trailing by a run in the 3rd, Rielly Lucas earned an RBI by getting hit by the pitch to level the scoring. Lucas would later hit her second home run of the weekend - with two outs in the 6th
After the HBP in the 3rd, the two-out barrage ensued. Lauren Love drove in two with a single up the middle. Sydney Bickel followed with a hit up the middle to bring in two more. Alex Coleman then legged out an infield hit to cap off the six-run frame.
The defense more than held up for the Herd from there. Erica Holt secured a diving catch in right field in the 4th. Love's catch off a liner helped Nester escape a jam in the 6th.Â
Nester finished off Butler in the 7th, securing the four-run win for Head Coach Megan Smith Lyon's team.
"I'm proud of our team," Smith said. "We learned a lot this weekend, we had a lot of new faces in new positions and I'm really proud of how they fought with energy and came together as a team. There are a lot of positives from the weekend!"Â
UP NEXT
The Herd returns to action at the Chattanooga Challenge next week from Tennessee. The first game will be on Friday, Feb. 17 at 12:30 p.m. against Maine.Â
For all the latest information about Marshall softball, follow @HerdSB on Twitter and Instagram.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nester, Sydney (3-0)
L: DYER, Rylyn (1-2)
Batting:
2B: SIMPSON, Loren 1 ; RYAN, Kieli 1 ; MOXLEY, Olivia 1
RBI: LEHNER, Cate 1 ; GROSS, Kaylee 1 ; MOXLEY, Olivia 1
SH: GROSS, Kaylee 1 ; CARTER, Sydney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SIMPSON, Loren 1 ; RYAN, Kieli 1 ; BOYER, Ellie 1
Batting:
2B: Bickel, Sydney 1 ; Feringa, Bub 1
HR: Lucas, Rielly 1
RBI: Bickel, Sydney 2 ; Coleman, Alex 1 ; Lucas, Rielly 2 ; Love, Lauren 2
SH: Coleman, Alex 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Feringa, Bub 1 ; Michallas, Camryn 1 ; Chelemen, Grace 1 ; Lucas, Rielly 2 ; Love, Lauren 1 ; Holt, Erica 1
SB: Coleman, Alex 1 ; Chelemen, Grace 1
HBP: Owen, Autumn 1 ; Lucas, Rielly 1
