The Youngstown State bowling team won its final four matches and posted the third-highest pinfall in the field of 18 teams on the opening day of the Destination Orlando: Sunshine State Classic tournament. The three-day tournament is being held at AMF Sky Lanes.
The No. 6 Penguins averaged 206.7 per game and posted a total pinfall of 5,167 in their five Baker matches. YSU topped 1,000 in each of its first four matches and shot 967 in its final match to finish as the only team in the field to top 960 in every match.
"Today was a total team effort," said YSU head coach Doug Kuberski. "With the lanes changing as quickly as they did, the ladies' shotmaking and communication were key to us navigating the day. Our focus heading into tomorrow is to elevate across the board and continue enjoying our time together."
Seven different Penguins started a match, and the order changed early as they searched for the right combination. After averaging 186 over their first four games of the morning, YSU threw 10 strikes in a 274 game to set the tone for the rest of the round. The Penguins lost that opening match 1,067-1,018 to No. 11 Duquesne, but they went on to win their last four contests and remained in the top group in the standings.
YSU shot 200 in four of its five games in a 1,048-951 triumph over Texas Southern to get into the win column in its second match. The Penguins threw the front six in the opening game, giving them 16 strikes in 18 attempts going back to the end of the Duquesne match. Lyndsay Ennis picked up the 4-6-7-10 split in YSU's 223 game to start the match, and YSU followed with a 236 in game two.
The Penguins bowled between 193 and 214 in all five games in their 1,031-959 win over Saint Francis (Pa.), and they posted their best set of the day to beat No. 7 Jacksonville State 1,103-1,087 in a high-scoring match. YSU had a 268 in game two, and Jade Cote threw three strikes in the 10th frame of game five to hold off the Gamecocks. Youngstown State finished the day with a 967-871 win over Alabama A&M.
Jacksonville State shot 5,400, which was 206 pins more than second-place Stephen F. Austin's total of 5,194. YSU was third with 5,167, 27 behind SFA, and Arkansas State was fourth with 4,996 pins.
Youngstown State will bowl in five traditional matches on Saturday beginning at 8:25 a.m.
Match 1 vs. #11 Duquesne
Starting Lineup: Cote, Grams, Drescher, Moore, Marx
L | 1,018-1,067 (189-202-177-176-274)
Match 2 vs. Texas Southern
Starting Lineup: Grams, Drescher, Ennis, Moore, Cote
W | 1,048-951 (223-236-200-201-188)
Match 3 vs. Saint Francis (Pa.)
Starting Lineup: Grams, Drescher, Ennis, Moore, Cote
W | 1,031-959 (201-193-212-214-211)
Match 4 vs. #7 Jacksonville State
Starting Lineup: Grams, Doseck, Ennis, Moore, Cote
W | 1,103-1,087 (200-268-197-203-235)
Match 5 vs. Alabama A&M
Starting Lineup: Grams, Doseck, Ennis, Moore, Cote
W | 967-871 (211-191-182-161-221)
