Jonesboro, Ark. - The Nebraska bowling team finished 5-0 on day one of the Mid-Winter Invitational hosted by Arkansas State University, tallying a total pinfall of 5,333 and sit in second place in the field of 17 teams.
Nebraska opened play on Friday against Alabama State, the team’s first meeting of the season. In game one of the baker five game total pinfall match, the Hornets edged the Huskers by three pins, 161-164, before padding their lead with a big advantage in game two (167-224). NU battled back to trim the deficit to just 35 pins, before coming out strong in the fourth game (227-142) to get its first lead of the match. Nebraska continued the momentum in the final game (183-181) to defeat Alabama State, 952-900.
Up next, the Huskers faced No. 15 Wisconsin Whitewater for their first ranked matchup of the weekend. Nebraska once again battled a slow start, as they fell behind after the first game (179-200) before cutting into the Warhawks lead in game two (182-167). With a 6-pin lead, UWW used a strong third game (247-182) to continue putting pressure on the Big Red to respond in the final two games. Nebraska did just that with a 203-177 advantage in the fourth game. Down 47 pins entering the last game, NU bowled a 248 against UWW’s 185 to grab a narrow 992-976 victory over the Warhawks and remain unblemished in the tournament.
With a 2-0 start on the day, Nebraska met its toughest test of the tournament in No. 1 Jacksonville State. Both teams began with a stalemate in the first game, 226-226, before the Gamecocks grabbed a 31-pin lead in the second game (248-279). Nebraska then rolled a 277, its highest of the day, to Jacksonville State’s 194 to hold a 52-pin lead before the final two games. NU held off the Gamecocks comeback attempts as they did just enough in game four (205-232) and game five (199-211) to secure its biggest win of the season so far as the Huskers took down No. 1 Jacksonville State, 1155-1142, to improve to 3-0.
NU’s tough schedule continued as the Huskers faced No. 2 Youngstown State in the fourth match of the day. The Huskers grabbed the first three games (238-198), (225-203), and (200-171) to piece together a 91-pin lead, their largest of the day. The Penguins continued to battle in the fourth game (215-225) before NU put them away in the fifth game (235-200) to take the match, 1113-997. It marked Nebraska’s fourth win of the day and gave them back-to-back wins over top two opponents.
After a grueling stretch, the Huskers prepared to face No. 17 Oklahoma Christian in the final match of the afternoon. Nebraska controlled the match from start to finish, taking all five games over the Eagles to finish the day a perfect 5-0. NU took the match, 1119-896, over Oklahoma Christian in dominant fashion as they have gone a combined 10-0 over the past two weekends on the first day of play.
The Big Red returns to the lanes tomorrow at 9:25 a.m. (CT) for five traditional games. The combined results will seed each team for Sunday's championship bracket to conclude the tournament. Each team will compete in three matches of best 4-of-7 baker games for final placements and awards beginning at 8:10 a.m. (CT).
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