Struthers, Ohio — Youngstown State's bowling team won its final four matches and beat a pair of ranked Conference USA opponents on Friday on the opening day of the 2025 Chelsea Gilliam Penguin Classic.

The Penguins are fourth in total pinfall following five Baker matches at Holiday Bowl, and the opening event of the 2025-26 season will continue on Saturday. The field of 18 teams will bowl five traditional matches beginning at 9:25 a.m.

Youngstown State shook off a tough start to game one against No. 3 Vanderbilt and built a 12-pin lead heading into game five. Two splits in a three-frame stretch of opens allowed the Commodores to take the opening match 1,016-980, but that was YSU's lone loss of the day.

The Penguins were tied going into game five against No. 11 Sacred Heart and edged the Pioneers by a pin, 922-921, and that sparked a stretch of four straight victories to end the day.

YSU stayed with its same five of Amber Mason, Gianna Varano, Leyna Kratzer, Amy Chrzanowski, and Kara Beissel as it topped 1,000 for the first time in a 1,021-816 win over Coppin State. Alivia Baskin and Kaitlyn Greenaway made their starting debuts against Alabama A&M, as YSU shot 1,074 in a 227-pin victory. Coach Doug Kuberski stayed with the hot hands against Nebraska to close out the day.

The Penguins opened the match against the No. 2 Huskers with a 226-156 advantage in game one, and they remained ahead the rest of the way. Nebraska closed the gap to 18 following a 258 in game four, and YSU outscored the Conference USA foe 215-213 in game five.

Nebraska posted the highest total on Friday with 5,404 pins, followed by Vanderbilt (5,266), Jacksonville State (5,254) and YSU (5,074). The Penguins have a 159-pin lead on fifth-place Sacred Heart (4,915).

Friday's Baker Match Results

Match 1: Loss — 980-1,016 vs. No. 3 Vanderbilt
Match 2: Win — 922-921 vs. No. 11 Sacred Heart
Match 3: Win — 1,021-816 vs. Coppin State
Match 4: Win — 1,074-847 vs. Alabama A&M
Match 5: Win — 1,077-1,057 vs. No. 2 Nebraska