Bowlers post two wins on Day 1 at SBL Championships
3/19/2021 9:23:00 PM | Women's Bowling
HANRAHAN, La. – The Sam Houston Bearkats had a big start to the Southland Bowling League Championships on Friday, winning both matches to advance in the winners bracket. They will face the other unbeaten team Vanderbilt on Saturday morning.Â
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Thee Kats, playing as the No. 5 seed in the tournament opened with a win against the fourth seed from Youngstown State. They then knocked off top-seed Arkansas State to complete the 2-0 start to the tournament.Â
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"We came out and did exactly what we had to do," said head coach Brad Hagen. "In a tournament format like this, you can't afford to have a slow start. Every pin counts and this is what we needed to happen."Â
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The Bearkats earned the first upset of the tournament, but it was not easy as they were pushed to the Baker Best-of-Seven match against the Penguins. Sam Houston took the traditional game 977-887 after Hayley Connelly, Elise Chambers and Bea Hernandez each recorded scores over 200. Youngstown State fought back in the total pinfall matchup to down the 'Kats 1,041-983 and force a Best-of-Seven match.Â
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Sam Houston jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the Best-of-Seven matchup, but the Penguins took three of the next four games to level the final set at three games apiece. The Bearkats found their footing in the seventh game, topping Youngstown State 258-201 to secure the victory and reserve a spot in the second-round winner's bracket.
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Sam Houston came to play in the second round, downing the Red Wolves in two games. The Bearkats shot out to a quick start with a 1,099-983 win in the traditional game, where four of Sam Houston' five bowlers scored over 200 with Southland Bowler and Newcomer of the Year Denise Blankenzee leading the way with a 238. The second game was more of the same as Sam Houston outscored Arkansas State 1,031-979 to advance to the semifinals.
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It's the second straight championship the Kats have won the first two matches, doing so as well in 2019 where they went on to win the league championship. They will face Vanderbilt on Saturday with a spot in the championship on the line in the double elimination tournament.Â
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Thee Kats, playing as the No. 5 seed in the tournament opened with a win against the fourth seed from Youngstown State. They then knocked off top-seed Arkansas State to complete the 2-0 start to the tournament.Â
Â
"We came out and did exactly what we had to do," said head coach Brad Hagen. "In a tournament format like this, you can't afford to have a slow start. Every pin counts and this is what we needed to happen."Â
Â
The Bearkats earned the first upset of the tournament, but it was not easy as they were pushed to the Baker Best-of-Seven match against the Penguins. Sam Houston took the traditional game 977-887 after Hayley Connelly, Elise Chambers and Bea Hernandez each recorded scores over 200. Youngstown State fought back in the total pinfall matchup to down the 'Kats 1,041-983 and force a Best-of-Seven match.Â
Â
Sam Houston jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the Best-of-Seven matchup, but the Penguins took three of the next four games to level the final set at three games apiece. The Bearkats found their footing in the seventh game, topping Youngstown State 258-201 to secure the victory and reserve a spot in the second-round winner's bracket.
Â
Sam Houston came to play in the second round, downing the Red Wolves in two games. The Bearkats shot out to a quick start with a 1,099-983 win in the traditional game, where four of Sam Houston' five bowlers scored over 200 with Southland Bowler and Newcomer of the Year Denise Blankenzee leading the way with a 238. The second game was more of the same as Sam Houston outscored Arkansas State 1,031-979 to advance to the semifinals.
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It's the second straight championship the Kats have won the first two matches, doing so as well in 2019 where they went on to win the league championship. They will face Vanderbilt on Saturday with a spot in the championship on the line in the double elimination tournament.Â
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Bowling
/ Women's Bowling
/ Women's Bowling
/ Women's Bowling
Friday, April 03
Friday, April 03
Thursday, April 02
Thursday, April 02
