Bearkats go 5-1 on first day of SFA Invitational
2/13/2015 9:31:00 PM | Women's Bowling
As they have in each of their three tournaments this winter, the Bearkat bowlers got off to a strong start Friday at the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack Classic.
No. 7 ranked Sam Houston went 5-1 with four victories over top 20 opponents in the event the runs through Sunday at Houston's Palace Lanes. Eleven top 20 teams are featured in the 17-squad field.
The SHSU women posted wins over No. 15 LIU-Brooklyn 1,127-1,078, No. 12 Sacred Heart 1,093-968 and No. 14 Saint Francis Brooklyn 933-866. The Kats also topped unranked opponents Texas Southern 906-904 and Monmouth 1,019-912.
The team's only loss came in their second match of the day as the Kats fell to No. 8 Maryland-Eastern Shore 1,140-1,011.
In each of the past two tournament however the Bearkats have faltered during Saturday traditional team play. Head coach Brad Hagen looks to reverse that trend this weekend.
"Overall today was a great start to the weekend,” Hagen said. “We were fighting the lanes too much but were able to make big shots in the second half of both sets to pull off good wins. We need to stay hungry, focused, and continue to trust our shot making ability. Saturday is our redemption day. Time to step up and make the shots we have been practicing the last two straight weeks."
Sam Houston stands in fourth place in total pins with 6,089. No. 1 Nebraska leads with 6,581 pins followed by No. 5 Stephen F. Austin 6,303 and LIU-Brooklyn 6,159. SFA was the only team to not drop a match Friday as the Jacks went 5-0. Nebraska and Central Missouri both went 4-1.
The Kats now hold a 71-32 won-loss record for the season.
Baker Total Pins Matches (Friday)
SHSU 906, Texas Southern 904 WIN
#8 Maryland-Eastern Shore 1,140, SHSU 1,011 Loss
SHSU 1,127, #15 LIU-Brooklyn 1,078 WIN
SHSU 1,093, #12 Sacred Heart 968 WIN
SHSU 933, #14 Saint Francis Brooklyn 886 WIN
SHSU 1,019, Monmouth 912 WIN
