The Youngstown State bowling team picked up an impressive win over No. 2 Vanderbilt but battled lower scores in the second half of the day at the Music City Classic at the Smyrna Bowling Center.
The Penguins averaged 211.3 per game as a team over their first two matches, but they slid to a 179.3 average in the final three matches. That dropped YSU to the eighth spot in qualifying as the tournament continues with the playoff bracket on Sunday.
"Today was filled with ups and downs, but I thought we started and ended on great waves energy-wise and have lots of great things to take with us to tomorrow," said YSU head coach Doug Kuberski. "We have shown what we can do when we are clicking and acting as one. Our focus is to enjoy our evening with friends and family, rest up, and prepare ourselves to bring our Sunday best."
Youngstown State started the morning with its best total of the day in a 1,065-1,033 win over the second-ranked Commodores. All five Penguins had at least two marks in the 10th frame as YSU fought off the hosts who had the highest pinfall on Friday. Youngstown State then beat Wagner 1,048-886, but it dropped its last three decisions to Tusculum (865-859), Monmouth (1,019-936) and No. 25 Sacred Heart (994-894).
Individually, all eight active Penguins bowled on Saturday. Madyson Marx led the way with a five-game set of 1,047 that placed her 21st in the large field. Hope Bunk totaled 1,020 pins to finish 29th, and Kirsten Moore finished 73rd with a 924 set. The other five YSU bowlers rotated between the other two positions in the lineup.
Youngstown State will bowl against Stephen F. Austin in its first best-of-seven Baker match on Sunday at 10 a.m.
Saturday's Traditional Match Results
Match 1 vs. #2 Vanderbilt
Lineup: Cote, Grams, Bunk, Moore, Marx
W: 1,065-1,033 (197-207-222-202-237)
Match 2 vs. Wagner
Lineup: Cote, Grams, Bunk, Moore, Marx
W: 1,048-886 (207-188-236-200-217)
Match 3 vs. Tusculum
Lineup: Cote, Grams, Bunk, Moore, Marx
L: 859-865 (162-157-170-177-193)
Match 4 vs. Monmouth
Lineup: Cote, Ennis, Bunk, Moore, Marx
L: 936-1,019 (165-184-196-181-210)
Match 5 vs. #25 Sacred Heart
Lineup: Doseck, Miller, Bunk, Moore, Marx
L: 894-994 (199-145-196-164-190)
Individual Results
21st - Madyson Marx - 1,047 (209.4 average in five games)
29th - Hope Bunk - 1,020 (204.0 average in five games)
73rd - Kirsten Moore - 924 (184.8 average in five games)
116th - Jade Cote - 731 (182.75 average in four games)
132nd - Megan Grams - 552 (184.0 average in three games)
158th - Madison Doseck - 199 (199.0 average in one game)
162nd - Lyndsay Ennis - 183 (183.0 average in one game)
176th - Hannah Miller - 145 (145.0 average in one game)
