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2025: Played in and started 40 games in her junior season, breaking out as MSUB's leadoff hitter... batted .381 in the 2025 season, finishing with a team-high 51 hits on 134 at bats... totaled ten doubles, one triple, and a pair of home runs... scored 28 runs, and drove in 14 RBIs... stole five bases... walked eight times, finishing the season with an on base percentage of .414... slugged .515... fielded .936 with 101 putouts and one assist in centerfield... put up a season-high three hits in two games... had 16 multi-hit games... put together a pair of nine game hitting streaks on the season... hit her first career homer on Mar. 14 against Simon Fraser... had a season best two RBIs on Apr.18 against Western Oregon... All-GNAC First Team.
2024: Played in 20 games in her second season with the program, making six starts... batted .316 with six hits, collecting four runs, two doubles, two RBIs, and a stolen base... earned her first career hit and RBI on Mar. 2 against University of Mary.
2023: Made 31 appearances, all as a pinch runner... scored nine runs, and stole two bases... scored her first career run on Feb. 3 against Chico State... stole her first career base on April 1 against Chaminade.
Billings West High School: Competed for the Billings West High School Golden Bears for four years…was high school teammates with MSUB softball player Lauren Blaschak…as a senior, helped the Golden Bears reach the Class AA state softball title game…led the most high-powered offense in Montana history by hitting 18 of the team’s 74 home runs as a senior…hit .474 and was a first-team all-state and all-conference leftfielder as a junior… helped Billings West win an Eastern Division AA title in 2021…hit a team-high eight home runs during her summer season in 2021…outside of high school softball, named a Softball Factory All-American and a Regional All-Star… played at several USA Preps showcases and club tournaments throughout her club career…in the classroom, Nieto was a member of the National Honor Society…won the principal's award and made the dean's list.
Coach McKinney on Nieto: "Marleigh is a left-handed bat with power. She has been in the top of the lineup for high school and summer to set up the middle of the lineup for RBI's. She will also bring some more speed to our outfield.”
Nieto on choosing MSUB: "I chose MSUB because I love Billings! I wanted to continue my softball career at home with family and friends around. The environment and atmosphere while walking around campus felt welcoming, it was very positive and it felt like a fun community. When I went for my official visit, the coaches and players truly made me feel like part of the family; I loved how they pushed the team to get the best from them. I have not yet decided what I want to major in and MSUB has a broad range of majors to choose from, I know that these academic opportunities provided by MSUB will help me reach my future goals. I feel very blessed that I get to continue playing in my hometown and I am super excited for this journey and to become a Yellowjacket!"
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