Despite Loss, YSU Bowling Still Alive in NCAA Tournament
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown State University bowling team dropped its first match in the NCAA Championship tournament on Friday afternoon.
Top-seeded McKendree University beat YSU 2-0 in the Penguins’ first appearance in the championship bracket.
The postseason bowling matches follow a multi-match format. First is the five-person team match, followed by the Baker total pinfall. If the teams split the first two matches, a best-of-seven Baker match would break the tie.
A Baker match is a team competition. Instead of the traditional format – five bowlers each getting 10 frames – the score uses a rotation of bowlers on one score line who alternate throughout the 10 frames for five games.
The Penguins fell behind early in the team match as McKendree started accumulating strikes. The Bearcats held a 1,145-954 advantage following the traditional match. The Bearcats followed their opening match win with a 1,241-1,039 victory in the Baker pinfall match to advance to the next round.
The Penguins are still alive in the tournament despite the loss. YSU dropped into the losers bracket and will play Arkansas State Friday at 4 p.m.
The Penguins won their first regional tournament on Thursday after beating No. 12 Sam Houston State 2-1. The Penguins, who entered as the 13th overall seed in the 16-team postseason, came from behind to win the regional after Sam Houston State won the team match 1,046-870. The Penguins responded by winning the Baker point with a 1,023-977 victory and YSU’s Emma Wrenn doubled the 10th frame of gave five for a 234-223 victory.
The Penguins upset No. 4 Louisiana Tech in the first round of the regional tournament and knocked off fifth-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson in the second round to set up their meeting with Sam Houston State.
The Penguins’ match against Arkansas State will be streamed on NCAA.com. This season marked YSU’s first appearance in the NCAA bowling tournament in the five years since the team started competing.
Image: Youngstown State University
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