Catawba's Fesperman Lifts Indians Past Bears 1-0

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – A solo homer by Catawba’s Kim Fesperman proved to be all the offense needed as the No. 3 seed Catawba Indians defeated the No. 6 seed Lenoir-Rhyne Bears 1-0 in the opening game of the South Atlantic Conference Softball Championship on Thursday (Apr. 23).

A pitcher’s dual from start to finish, both starting pitchers combined to allow just nine total hits, one run and struck out a combined 24 batters.

Catawba’s Carley Tysinger (22-9) earned the win with a complete game shut out. She scattered two hits and struck out 13.

The Bear’s Maryann Hoskins (19-8) was tagged with the loss. She allowed one run on seven hits in six innings in the circle with 11 strikeouts.

Fesperman finished the game 1-for-2 at the plate with a home run, an RBI and a run scored. Katherine Shumaker was the leading hitter for the Indians with a pair of hits, while Natalie Naturile had a double.

Lenoir-Rhyne’s Madison Poe and Ashley Oliver each had a hit to lead the Bear’s at the plate.

Catawba advances to the face the winner of the game between the No. 2 seed Anderson and the No. 7 seed Lincoln Memorial on Friday (Apr. 24) at 10 a.m. Lenoir-Rhyne will face the loser of the Anderson and Lincoln Memorial game in an elimination game on Friday at 10 a.m.