The Youngstown State bowling team beat Lincoln Memorial twice in best-of-seven Baker matches on Sunday to have a strong finish at the Big Red Invitational.
The Penguins entered the day sixth in the standings, and they averaged 220.3 over nine games on Sunday to move up two places into fourth. The tournament finishes were based on average over the three days instead of head-to-head results in a playoff bracket. Youngstown State came into the day nearly five pins per game out of fourth place but made up the large gap with the impressive showing on the final day as it led the field in average on Sunday.
"Today was a solid finish to our weekend as were able to string some strikes and continue shooting spares at a high level," Head Coach Doug Kuberski said. "The ladies continue to show a lot of heart and toughness. It is truly an honor to work with them, and the way they carry themselves is truly impressive. With spring break on the horizon, I know we are all hungry to keep at it and prepare ourselves for Smyrna."
The Penguins fought through a 3-7 record in their first two days at the tournament, but they immediately showed that they would be a force on Sunday. They struck 10 times in a 267 game to start the morning, and they averaged 241.3 over four games in a sweep of the Railsplitters. YSU won 267-178, 216-197, 230-201 and 252-203 over LMU, which was fifth in average coming into the day.
With the bracket already set for the fifth and sixth seeds to bowl each other in both matches on Sunday, the Penguins were pitted against LMU again. With YSU now holding the fifth seed due to the large differential in the first match, Youngstown State beat the Railsplitters again 4-1 and averaged 203.6 in the five games. YSU took game one 204-152, but LMU event the match with a 193-171 victory in the second stanza. The Penguins then finished the match by winning the next three games 225-214, 226-184 and 192-165.
Youngstown State will have one more regular-season tune-up as it continues for the postseason. YSU will bowl among a large field at Vanderbilt's Columbia 300 Music City Classic on March 17-19 in Smyrna, Tenn. The Southland Bowling League Championship is March 24-26 in Rowlett, Texas.
Match 1 vs. #21 Lincoln Memorial
Starting Lineup: Cote, Grams, Bunk, Moore, Marx
YSU | 267-178
YSU | 216-197
YSU | 230-201
YSU | 252-203
Match 2 vs. #21 Lincoln Memorial
Starting Lineup: Cote, Grams, Bunk, Moore, Marx
YSU | 204-152
LMU | 171-193
YSU | 225-214
YSU | 226-184
YSU | 192-165
