Lockport, Ill — Youngstown State's bowling team outlasted second-ranked Vanderbilt in a marathon match that went to a five-frame tiebreaker to highlight the final day at the Flyer Classic on Sunday. The three-day tournament was hosted by Lewis University at Strike & Spare II.

Youngstown State was seeded fourth in the championship bracket after 10 matches of qualifying on Friday and Saturday, and it dropped its first two best-of-seven Baker matches on Sunday. The Penguins then fought through four games decided by 12 pins or fewer against Vanderbilt to force a tiebreaker, which YSU won 110-61.

The win over the Commodores allowed YSU to secure fifth place in the 22-team tournament, and the Penguins finished the tournament with a 9-4 record in head-to-head matches. Four of those wins came over teams ranked in the top 10 of February's National Tenpin Coaches Association Poll, and YSU beat Vandy twice.

"I'm very proud of our effort across the board," said Youngstown State head coach Doug Kuberski. "Independent of the results, we embraced our process and our work and had a lot of fun out there competing."

"There are so many good teams out there doing great things, and we know every match is going to be a battle. We know heading into the stretch run we have to stay disciplined and stay focused on our process and our work. I'm excited to stay after it and see where it takes us."

Youngstown State had to go unbeaten on Sunday to win the tournament championship, and it dropped its opening match 4-1 to No. 6 North Carolina A&T. YSU fired a 225 to win game one, but the Aggies were ahead the next four games.

YSU then got behind top-ranked Nebraska 2-0 in its second match, but the Penguins followed with wins of 221-200 and 267-213 to tie the match. The Huskers responded with a 278 in game five to take a 3-2 lead, and game six went Nebraska's way 210-190.

The Penguins and Commodores split the first two matches, and YSU had its lowest-scoring game of the day in game three in a 236-160 loss. Game four was halved as both teams shot 244, and Vanderbilt narrowly won game five 188-187 to take a 3.5-1.5 lead. Anchor Madison Doseck struck out in the 10th to help YSU stay alive with a 214-208 win in game six, and the Penguins held big margins in game seven and the tiebreaker. Youngstown State struck on five of its first six attempts in game seven on its way to a 235-129 win, and YSU had four strikes in the five-frame tiebreaker to win 110-61.

Youngstown State will be back in action next weekend at the Mid-Winter Invitational hosted by Arkansas State.

Sunday's Best-of-Seven Baker Matches

• Match 1 vs. #6 North Carolina A&T | L » 1-4 (225-206 | 169-214 | 195-209 | 223-241 | 171-234)
• Match 2 vs. #1 Nebraska | L » 2-4 (215-239| 200-213 | 221-200 | 267-213 | 203-278 | 190-210)
• Match 3 vs. #2 Vanderbilt | W » 4.5-3.5 (235-247 | 228-172 | 160-236 | 244-244 | 187-188 | 214-208 | 235-129 | 110-61)