New Paltz's Sydney Waldon Named NFCA National Pitcher of the Week
New Paltz Sports Information Department
New Paltz, NY — Capping what was arguably the most historic week for any individual in State University of New York New Paltz Softball history, senior Sydney Waldon was named as the team's first National Fastpitch Coaches Association National Pitcher of the Week.
Click here to read the official NFCA press release.
Through a 6-0 week for the Hawks, Waldon was the highlight during her four mound appearances. She opened up the week by re-setting the program's single game strikeout — one of which she had previously set herself last season — with a career-high 17-strikeout performance in a 4-0 win over Canton in Game 1. She gave up just a single hit with two walks in a complete game shutout.
The following day, she followed up that performance by throwing her first no-hitter, becoming just the eighth Hawk to do so in another 4-0 win this time over the hosting Oswego Lakers. She allowed just three walks while recording 12 strikeouts n 26 batters faced in the complete game shutout. She was then tapped to close out Game 2 against the Lakers with the Hawks holding a 2-1 lead entering the bottom of the eighth. Waldon was clutch sitting down the side to earn the save and help her team the doubleheader sweep.
Waldon bested even that performance once SUNY New Paltz came back home Friday. She, among her three other peers, were celebrated during Senior Day against the visiting Morrisville Mustangs and pitched perfect. Retiring all 21 batters faced without allowing a single base runner on, Waldon became just the second Hawk ever to throw a Perfect Game, joining former teammate Lindsay Roman who did so against Brockport in 2023. Waldon also matched her own career-high and single-game program record with 17 strikeouts in the 3-0 dominance, while recording her sixth complete game shutout of the season including her fifth straight.
Through the four games she appeared in last week, Waldon allowed just a single hit, only seven walks while striking out 48 of 78 batters faced in 22 innings pitched while holding a K/7 of 15.27, an ERA of 0.00 and WHIP of .41 during three complete game shutout victories and one save.
