Penguins Beat Four Ranked Teams on First Day at Mid-Winter Invitational

Friday, March 12

Jonesboro, AR (Hijinx Family Entertainment Center)

Youngstown State University

4-1

Mid-Winter Invitational

Penguins Beat Four Ranked Teams on First Day at Mid-Winter Invitational

3/12/2021 12:00:00 AM | Bowling

The Youngstown State bowling team earned four victories over ranked teams and posted the fourth-highest total pinfall among a loaded field at the Mid-Winter Invitational on Friday. The tournament is being hosted by Arkansas State at the Hijinx Family Entertainment Center in Jonesboro, Ark.

The Penguins beat No. 2 Arkansas State, No. 8 Sam Houston State, No. 17 Tulane and No. 22 Central Missouri in head-to-head Baker play on Friday, which was the first day of the three-day tournament at Hijinx. Youngstown State's five-match total pinfall of 5,112 was the third-highest for Baker format in school history, and it has them fourth in the tournament field that features 10 teams ranked in the National Tenpin Coaches Association Top 25 poll. The Penguins averaged 204.5 in their 25 Baker games for the day.

"Overall, I'm pleased with our performance today," YSU head coach Doug Kuberski said. "We have worked hard on navigating the fresh oil better, and the ladies came out of the gate aggressive and with a great approach. We made a few mistakes the last match, but we gained some valuable information from it to use tomorrow. If we stay focused on playing our game, I like our chances of being there in the end.

Youngstown State began the day with a 256 game, which was the fourth-highest Baker game of the season, on its way to a 1,049-943 win over No. 22 Central Missouri. A 253 game highlighted a 991-909 victory against No. 17 Tulane, and the Penguins followed with their top set of the day against the second-ranked Red Wolves. Youngstown State beat Arkansas State 231-199 in the first game and 237-187 in the fifth as it earned a 1,083-1,029 victory. That 1,083 was the third-best match total of the season. The Penguins then beat No. 8 Sam Houston State 1,026-915 before falling 986-963 to No. 14 Maryville to end day one.

Nebraska had the highest-scoring round with a 5,494, and Arkansas State and Stephen F. Austin are between the Husker and Penguins. YSU ended the opening round with a 54-pin lead on No. 1 McKendree, which is in fifth place in the standings.

The Penguins will bowl in five team matches on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. Eastern. Each match will be streamed live on the YSUsports YouTube channel.

Friday's Baker Match Results