Marshall University Athletics
2022 Softball Roster
Roster
Nester, Sydney
C/INF
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Jersey Number 21
Sydney Nester
- Position:
- Pitcher
- Class:
- Redshirt Junior
- High School:
- Carroll County HS
- Hometown:
- Hillsville, Va.
Bio
2023 Sun Belt All-Conference First Team
2023 Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team
2023 Sun Belt Conference Pitching Triple Crown Winner (Wins, ERA, Strikeouts)
2023 (Redshirt-Senior)
GP/GS: 38/34 …Dominated in the circle in her final season with the Herd, leading the conference and sitting in the top of the leaderboard nationally in a number of categories… Named Sun Belt All-Conference First Team... Led the Herd with a 1.07 ERA, 27-8 record, 38 appearances, 34 starts, 31 complete games, nine shutouts, three saves, 228.0 innings pitched, 234 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .176 … Ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA in ERA, Hits allowed per seven innings, and wins ... Held nation's top home run hitting team, #24 Virginia Tech to one run in a complete game victory on Apr. 25 ... One of two pitchers in Marshall Softball history to have multiple 25+ win seasons (Jordan Dixon),
2022 NFCA Mideast All-Region First Team
2022 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year
2022 Conference USA Newcomer of the Year
2022 All-Conference USA First Team
2022 Conference USA All-Academic Team
6x 2022 Conference USA Pitcher of the Week
2022 NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete: GPA 3.50 or better
2022 Conference USA Academic Medalist: GPA 3.75 or better
2022 Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll: GPA 3.00 or better
2022 NCAA Top 10 Shutouts (5th – 11)
2022 NCAA Top 10 Strikeouts (7th – 294)
2022 NCAA Top 10 Innings Pitched (8th – 228.0)
2022 NCAA Top 10 Victories (9th – 26)
2022 (Senior)
GP/GS: 43/35 … Made major impact in first year with the Herd with one of the best single-season pitching performances in program history, piling up awards and honors on and off the field … Dominated in the circle throughout the season setting records … Named Conference USA Pitcher and Newcomer of the Year... Six-time C-USA Pitcher of the Week, tied for third-most weekly pitching honors and just the eighth pitcher in league history to be named at least six times in a season ... Already second-most weekly pitching honors for a career in team history … Led the Herd with a 2.36 ERA, 26-11 record, 43 appearances, 35 starts, 30 complete games, 11 shutouts, three saves, 228.0 innings pitched, 294 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .204 … Ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA in four categories (see above) and led Conference USA in same … Got it done in the classroom in first year of graduate school and was named to the C-USA All-Academic Team … Set program record for the fastest to 100 strikeouts in a season in team history reaching mark in 58 innings (March 4 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore)... Set program record for the fastest to 200 strikeouts in a season in team history reaching the mark in 137 innings and 26th appearance (April 8 at FAU), breaking old record of 153.1 innings and 29th outing by Andi Williamson in 2013 … Tied record for most double-digit strikeout games in a season in Marshall history with 12...Set Herd single-season record with 9.03 strikeouts per seven innings … 11 shutouts tied for second-most in a season at Marshall, recorded just five shutouts in three seasons at N.C. State … 294 strikeouts tied for third in Marshall annals … 26 wins good for fifth-most in a season at Marshall … Won 11-straight starts from March 25-April 22, third-longest streak in program history ... Won 6-straight starts from Feb. 26-March 13, sixth-longest streak in team history ... Recorded at least one strikeout in 34-straight appearances from Feb. 20-May 11, good for fourth-longest streak in team history ... In just one season already in the top 10 in eight categories in Marshall career record book: first most strikeouts per seven innings, first lowest opponent batting average, fifth fewest walks allowed per seven innings (2.09), eighth ERA, eighth shutouts, ninth strikeouts, 10th complete games, and tied for 10th saves … Sixth pitcher in team history to throw a no-hitter (March 3 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne) … Opened season and Herd career with a 2-hit shutout of Saint Joseph’s (Feb. 11) with 13 strikeouts, first MU pitcher with 10+ Ks in a game since Dixon at Virginia Tech (April 21, 2017) ... Recorded 600th career collegiate strikeout in the fourth inning of game one versus UTEP (April 29) … Earned 24th win of the season with complete-game victory at North Texas (May 8) … Tossed complete game with four strikeouts and four runs allowed, one earned, in win over Florida Atlantic (May 11) in Conference USA Tournament … Came back strong after rough fifth inning versus Charlotte (May 12) in elimination game of the C-USA Tournament, gave up six runs on five hits and three walks, allowed one more run in the sixth but struck out batter to end the inning, then retired the side in order with another strikeout in the top of the seventh keeping Herd within one run (9-8), MU went on to 10-9 walkoff win in the bottom of the seventh … Walked off the field to standing ovation from both Marshall and WKU fans when taken out in loss to Hilltoppers (May 13) at C-USA Tournament … In collegiate career (North Carolina State and Marshall) has appeared in 126 games with 81 starts, 57-33 record, 3.04 ERA, 54 complete games, 16 shutouts, five saves, 569.0 innings pitched, 638 strikeouts and opponent batting average of .218.
Prior to Marshall: 2019-21 at North Carolina State
2021 (Junior)
Made 29 appearances with 14 starts … Led Wolfpack in appearances and strikeouts with 102 … Tied for team lead in innings pitched with 105 … Finished with a 7-10 record, 3.87 ERA, six complete games and opponents batting average against was .227 … Tallied three or more strikeouts in 16 games, and five or more nine times … Tossed seven strikeouts in complete-game win against Louisville (Feb. 19), allowed four hits and three runs …Finished three years at NC State with 3.49 ERA, 31-22 record, 83 appearances, 46 starts, 24 complete games, five shutouts, two saves, 341.0 innings, 344 strikeouts and .227 batting average against … In the Wolfpack record book fourth in career strikeouts per seven innings (7.06), sixth in career wins (31), sixth in career strikeouts (344), seventh in career lowest opponent batting average (.227) and 10th in career ERA (3.49).
2020 (Sophomore)
Made 17 appearances and 12 starts in shortened season due to COVID-19 pandemic … Was off to a great start with 10-4 record and 89 strikeouts in 86.1 innings pitched … Ranked as the No. 39 pitcher in the 2020 season in D1 Softball’s Top 100 Analytical Rankings … Ranked No. 87 in the Softball America Shortened Season Top 100 Players list … Was one of only two pitchers in the ACC to record double digit wins
2019 (Freshman)
2019 ACC Pitcher of the Week: March 12
Made 37 appearances and 20 starts, good for second on the team in both categories … Led Wolfpack with 14-8 record and three shutouts … Finished second on the team with a 3.37 ERA, 11 complete games, 149.2 innings pitched, and 153 strikeouts … Pitched against five ranked teams No. 19 Michigan, No. 7 Arizona, No. 5 Florida, No. 25 Virginia Tech and No. 3 Florida State … Tallied two or more strikeouts 25 times, five or more 16 times and 10 or more three times … Ended regular season fifth in the ACC in strikeouts with 152, had one in the ACC Tournament … Made collegiate debut and first career start on Feb. 8 against No. 19 Michigan, pitched four innings, allowed three hits, three runs and struck out four in no decision … Earned first win with 2.2 innings of shutout and hitless relief against Illinois State (Feb. 8) recorded six strikeouts … Defeated No. 7 Arizona (Feb. 10) 4-1 throwing all seven innings, allowed seven hits, one run and struck out five … Also threw 2.2 innings against No. 5 Florida in season-opening tournament … Recorded seven strikeouts in win over UMBC (Feb. 24), allowed two hits and one run … Tossed complete-game shutout with nine strikeouts over Charleston Southern (March 2) … Threw four innings of shutout relief versus Valparaiso (March 5) with eight strikeouts and allowed just three hits … First career double-digit strikeout effort versus Marist (March 8) with 12 in complete-game, shutout victory, allowed just two hits … Next day pitched first career no-hitter at College of Charleston (March 9) with career-high 15 strikeouts in 2-0 win … Finished weekend with five strikeouts in five innings of shutout work against Youngstown State (March 10), allowed just three hits … Was named ACC Pitcher of the Week on March 12 after going 3-0, not allowing a run and striking out 40 in in 23 innings pitched during four outings … Threw six strikeouts in win over Boston College (March 31) to help Wolfpack take the series … Recorded 11 strikeouts in complete-game victory over Winthrop (April 2), was 10th win of the season … Had seven strikeouts in victory over Syracuse (April 6) … Earned two wins against Duke (April 20-21) throwing 16 total innings (9 innings in first win, 7 in the second), allowed 10 hits, five runs and struck out seven … Pitched against North Carolina (May 10) in ACC Tournament semifinals.
High School: Attended Carroll County High School … Graduated in December 2017 and took classes at Wytheville Community College before attending North Carolina State … Played on the LLG DeMarini Platinum Squad … Ranked No. 22 by FloSoftball among 2018 recruits, and rated as a top 10 pitcher in the recruiting class … 2016 Virginia Gatorade State Player of the Year … Owns a 55-2 high school record, is undefeated in regular season play and has never lost a seven-inning game … MaxPreps All-America selection as a freshman and sophomore … Three-time Conference 24 Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference selection … 2015, ’16, ’17 All-Timesland Pitcher of the Year … Named 4A North Region Player of the Year in 2015 and collected 4A North Region First Team honors in 2016 and 2017 … Named State 4A Player of the Year in 2015 … Garnered 4A First Team All-State selection in 2016 and second team in 2017 … Helped lead her team to the 4A State Championship title in 2015, first team championship in Carroll County High School history … Helped team to finish second at the 4A North Regional in 2015 and reach semifinals (final eight) in 2016 and 2017 … Also helped lead her team to three-straight Conference 24 Tournament titles (2015-17).
Personal: Born March 21, 2000 … Daughter of Brad and Rhonda Nester … Has two brothers … Older brother Landon earned his B.S. from Montana State University-Northern, then his M.B.A. from Longwood University and is now Lead Technical Instructor at Wabtec Corporation … Younger brother Jackson is a swimmer at Cleveland State, went to 2021 Olympic Trials Qualifier in the 200 Back long course, was also a three-time Virginia VHSL Class 3 State Champion … Chose to transfer to Marshall because, “from the very first email from coach (Maddie) Holub, it was personal. 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."
Graduated with Bachelor’s degree in sport management in just three years in 2021 from North Carolina State … Working on Master’s degree in communication studies at Marshall.
2023 Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team
2023 Sun Belt Conference Pitching Triple Crown Winner (Wins, ERA, Strikeouts)
2023 (Redshirt-Senior)
GP/GS: 38/34 …Dominated in the circle in her final season with the Herd, leading the conference and sitting in the top of the leaderboard nationally in a number of categories… Named Sun Belt All-Conference First Team... Led the Herd with a 1.07 ERA, 27-8 record, 38 appearances, 34 starts, 31 complete games, nine shutouts, three saves, 228.0 innings pitched, 234 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .176 … Ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA in ERA, Hits allowed per seven innings, and wins ... Held nation's top home run hitting team, #24 Virginia Tech to one run in a complete game victory on Apr. 25 ... One of two pitchers in Marshall Softball history to have multiple 25+ win seasons (Jordan Dixon),
2022 NFCA Mideast All-Region First Team
2022 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year
2022 Conference USA Newcomer of the Year
2022 All-Conference USA First Team
2022 Conference USA All-Academic Team
6x 2022 Conference USA Pitcher of the Week
2022 NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete: GPA 3.50 or better
2022 Conference USA Academic Medalist: GPA 3.75 or better
2022 Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll: GPA 3.00 or better
2022 NCAA Top 10 Shutouts (5th – 11)
2022 NCAA Top 10 Strikeouts (7th – 294)
2022 NCAA Top 10 Innings Pitched (8th – 228.0)
2022 NCAA Top 10 Victories (9th – 26)
2022 (Senior)
GP/GS: 43/35 … Made major impact in first year with the Herd with one of the best single-season pitching performances in program history, piling up awards and honors on and off the field … Dominated in the circle throughout the season setting records … Named Conference USA Pitcher and Newcomer of the Year... Six-time C-USA Pitcher of the Week, tied for third-most weekly pitching honors and just the eighth pitcher in league history to be named at least six times in a season ... Already second-most weekly pitching honors for a career in team history … Led the Herd with a 2.36 ERA, 26-11 record, 43 appearances, 35 starts, 30 complete games, 11 shutouts, three saves, 228.0 innings pitched, 294 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .204 … Ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA in four categories (see above) and led Conference USA in same … Got it done in the classroom in first year of graduate school and was named to the C-USA All-Academic Team … Set program record for the fastest to 100 strikeouts in a season in team history reaching mark in 58 innings (March 4 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore)... Set program record for the fastest to 200 strikeouts in a season in team history reaching the mark in 137 innings and 26th appearance (April 8 at FAU), breaking old record of 153.1 innings and 29th outing by Andi Williamson in 2013 … Tied record for most double-digit strikeout games in a season in Marshall history with 12...Set Herd single-season record with 9.03 strikeouts per seven innings … 11 shutouts tied for second-most in a season at Marshall, recorded just five shutouts in three seasons at N.C. State … 294 strikeouts tied for third in Marshall annals … 26 wins good for fifth-most in a season at Marshall … Won 11-straight starts from March 25-April 22, third-longest streak in program history ... Won 6-straight starts from Feb. 26-March 13, sixth-longest streak in team history ... Recorded at least one strikeout in 34-straight appearances from Feb. 20-May 11, good for fourth-longest streak in team history ... In just one season already in the top 10 in eight categories in Marshall career record book: first most strikeouts per seven innings, first lowest opponent batting average, fifth fewest walks allowed per seven innings (2.09), eighth ERA, eighth shutouts, ninth strikeouts, 10th complete games, and tied for 10th saves … Sixth pitcher in team history to throw a no-hitter (March 3 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne) … Opened season and Herd career with a 2-hit shutout of Saint Joseph’s (Feb. 11) with 13 strikeouts, first MU pitcher with 10+ Ks in a game since Dixon at Virginia Tech (April 21, 2017) ... Recorded 600th career collegiate strikeout in the fourth inning of game one versus UTEP (April 29) … Earned 24th win of the season with complete-game victory at North Texas (May 8) … Tossed complete game with four strikeouts and four runs allowed, one earned, in win over Florida Atlantic (May 11) in Conference USA Tournament … Came back strong after rough fifth inning versus Charlotte (May 12) in elimination game of the C-USA Tournament, gave up six runs on five hits and three walks, allowed one more run in the sixth but struck out batter to end the inning, then retired the side in order with another strikeout in the top of the seventh keeping Herd within one run (9-8), MU went on to 10-9 walkoff win in the bottom of the seventh … Walked off the field to standing ovation from both Marshall and WKU fans when taken out in loss to Hilltoppers (May 13) at C-USA Tournament … In collegiate career (North Carolina State and Marshall) has appeared in 126 games with 81 starts, 57-33 record, 3.04 ERA, 54 complete games, 16 shutouts, five saves, 569.0 innings pitched, 638 strikeouts and opponent batting average of .218.
Prior to Marshall: 2019-21 at North Carolina State
2021 (Junior)
Made 29 appearances with 14 starts … Led Wolfpack in appearances and strikeouts with 102 … Tied for team lead in innings pitched with 105 … Finished with a 7-10 record, 3.87 ERA, six complete games and opponents batting average against was .227 … Tallied three or more strikeouts in 16 games, and five or more nine times … Tossed seven strikeouts in complete-game win against Louisville (Feb. 19), allowed four hits and three runs …Finished three years at NC State with 3.49 ERA, 31-22 record, 83 appearances, 46 starts, 24 complete games, five shutouts, two saves, 341.0 innings, 344 strikeouts and .227 batting average against … In the Wolfpack record book fourth in career strikeouts per seven innings (7.06), sixth in career wins (31), sixth in career strikeouts (344), seventh in career lowest opponent batting average (.227) and 10th in career ERA (3.49).
2020 (Sophomore)
Made 17 appearances and 12 starts in shortened season due to COVID-19 pandemic … Was off to a great start with 10-4 record and 89 strikeouts in 86.1 innings pitched … Ranked as the No. 39 pitcher in the 2020 season in D1 Softball’s Top 100 Analytical Rankings … Ranked No. 87 in the Softball America Shortened Season Top 100 Players list … Was one of only two pitchers in the ACC to record double digit wins
2019 (Freshman)
2019 ACC Pitcher of the Week: March 12
Made 37 appearances and 20 starts, good for second on the team in both categories … Led Wolfpack with 14-8 record and three shutouts … Finished second on the team with a 3.37 ERA, 11 complete games, 149.2 innings pitched, and 153 strikeouts … Pitched against five ranked teams No. 19 Michigan, No. 7 Arizona, No. 5 Florida, No. 25 Virginia Tech and No. 3 Florida State … Tallied two or more strikeouts 25 times, five or more 16 times and 10 or more three times … Ended regular season fifth in the ACC in strikeouts with 152, had one in the ACC Tournament … Made collegiate debut and first career start on Feb. 8 against No. 19 Michigan, pitched four innings, allowed three hits, three runs and struck out four in no decision … Earned first win with 2.2 innings of shutout and hitless relief against Illinois State (Feb. 8) recorded six strikeouts … Defeated No. 7 Arizona (Feb. 10) 4-1 throwing all seven innings, allowed seven hits, one run and struck out five … Also threw 2.2 innings against No. 5 Florida in season-opening tournament … Recorded seven strikeouts in win over UMBC (Feb. 24), allowed two hits and one run … Tossed complete-game shutout with nine strikeouts over Charleston Southern (March 2) … Threw four innings of shutout relief versus Valparaiso (March 5) with eight strikeouts and allowed just three hits … First career double-digit strikeout effort versus Marist (March 8) with 12 in complete-game, shutout victory, allowed just two hits … Next day pitched first career no-hitter at College of Charleston (March 9) with career-high 15 strikeouts in 2-0 win … Finished weekend with five strikeouts in five innings of shutout work against Youngstown State (March 10), allowed just three hits … Was named ACC Pitcher of the Week on March 12 after going 3-0, not allowing a run and striking out 40 in in 23 innings pitched during four outings … Threw six strikeouts in win over Boston College (March 31) to help Wolfpack take the series … Recorded 11 strikeouts in complete-game victory over Winthrop (April 2), was 10th win of the season … Had seven strikeouts in victory over Syracuse (April 6) … Earned two wins against Duke (April 20-21) throwing 16 total innings (9 innings in first win, 7 in the second), allowed 10 hits, five runs and struck out seven … Pitched against North Carolina (May 10) in ACC Tournament semifinals.
High School: Attended Carroll County High School … Graduated in December 2017 and took classes at Wytheville Community College before attending North Carolina State … Played on the LLG DeMarini Platinum Squad … Ranked No. 22 by FloSoftball among 2018 recruits, and rated as a top 10 pitcher in the recruiting class … 2016 Virginia Gatorade State Player of the Year … Owns a 55-2 high school record, is undefeated in regular season play and has never lost a seven-inning game … MaxPreps All-America selection as a freshman and sophomore … Three-time Conference 24 Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference selection … 2015, ’16, ’17 All-Timesland Pitcher of the Year … Named 4A North Region Player of the Year in 2015 and collected 4A North Region First Team honors in 2016 and 2017 … Named State 4A Player of the Year in 2015 … Garnered 4A First Team All-State selection in 2016 and second team in 2017 … Helped lead her team to the 4A State Championship title in 2015, first team championship in Carroll County High School history … Helped team to finish second at the 4A North Regional in 2015 and reach semifinals (final eight) in 2016 and 2017 … Also helped lead her team to three-straight Conference 24 Tournament titles (2015-17).
Personal: Born March 21, 2000 … Daughter of Brad and Rhonda Nester … Has two brothers … Older brother Landon earned his B.S. from Montana State University-Northern, then his M.B.A. from Longwood University and is now Lead Technical Instructor at Wabtec Corporation … Younger brother Jackson is a swimmer at Cleveland State, went to 2021 Olympic Trials Qualifier in the 200 Back long course, was also a three-time Virginia VHSL Class 3 State Champion … Chose to transfer to Marshall because, “from the very first email from coach (Maddie) Holub, it was personal. 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."
Graduated with Bachelor’s degree in sport management in just three years in 2021 from North Carolina State … Working on Master’s degree in communication studies at Marshall.
Marshall Softball Class of 2025 Graduates
Friday, May 02
Marshall Softball: Kaleea Washington & Brooklyn Ulrich (Post-Radford)
Tuesday, April 22
Marshall Softball: HC Morgan Zerkle, Haleigh Adkins, Paige Maynard (Post-Coastal)
Friday, April 18
Hype and Harmony: the Team Personality Fuels Success #softball
Thursday, April 17
