It may have been a disappointing finish for the Bearkat bowlers on the final day of the Track Kat Klash, but it was a history making day.

In the fifth place match against SFA, the Bearkats bowled the first team 300 game in program history. Hayley Connelly got it started for the Bearkats with a strike followed by Madysen Keller, who bowled the first individual 300 in school history two weeks ago. Taryn Gray, Stephanie Zavala and Amber MacLeod made it five in a row to get the Kats halfway there.

After four more strikes, MacLeod Needed three in the 10th frame to finish off the perfect game. After the final strike the celebration started. SFA won the next two games to take the match. The previous best game for the Kats was a 299 at the Music City Classic against Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2013.

"We're slowly moving in the right direction but we need to close and fill frames especially during close matches," said head coach Brad Hagen. "Adversity is always a great learning tool and we have the talent. We saw that during the 300. When we are consistently making our shots, this team can be dangerous. Consistency is the key though."

The Bearkats opened the day against SFA as the No. 5 seed in the first round of bracket play. The Kats opened up with a 259 game and ended up winning the match in six games. It was the third straight tournament the Bearkats have faced SFA in the opening match on Sunday.

In the second round, Sam Houston and Maryland-Eastern Shore played a tightly contested match. The Hawks won in six games, with three of the wins by UMES decided by five pins or less.

"The results were not what we were hoping for, but this was a learning experience for the team as we continue to prepare for our next competition," Hagen said.

The Kats are back in action in two weeks at the UMES Hawk Classic. It will be the final tournament of the fall for the fifth-ranked Bearkats.