Huskers in Fifth at Big Red Invite

Lincoln – The Nebraska Bowling team went 3-2 on the opening day of the Big Red Invitational on Friday. The Huskers ended the day in fifth place with a total pinfall of 5,041 for an average of 201.6. 

The Huskers began the day against No. 14 Sam Houston for their first five-game baker match where the winner is determined by total pinfall. The Big Red started Haley Swindle, Lani Breedlove, Brenna Hartzler, Karina Capron and Jillian Martin.  After winning the opener 215-199, the Huskers took game two in a comeback that featured five straight strikes to close the game including a triple from Martin to take the lead 223-201.  Game three was another Husker victory featuring five-straight strikes propelling the Scarlet and Cream to a 237-195 score. The Huskers stumbled in the fourth game as open frames off splits allowed the Bearkats to win their first game of the match 186-146, cutting NU’s match lead to 821-781. The Big Red bounced back in game five, securing a 212-180 win and the match 1033-997. 

Match two against No. 3 Arkansas State  began with a close NU victory, 231-226. Game two came down to the wire with the Huskers coming out on top behind a pair of 10th frame strikes from Martin to win 201-196. The Big Red continued their winning streak with a dominant 222-182 game three before the Red Wolves stole a game with a 191-190 victory in game four. The Huskers clinched the win with convincing 214–174 victory to claim the match by a score of 1058-969.

The Huskers continued on against No. 8 Youngstown State. Game one featured plenty of strikes from both teams, but it was the Penguins who won on a clean 223-215. NU answered back with a 229-204 win in game two to make the match score 444-427 in Nebraska’s favor. Game three was played close, resulting in a 189-189 tie to keep the Huskers in the lead. The Big Red notched a four-bagger to help take game four 221-191 and extend the lead. In the finale, Youngstown State struck a four-straight of their own on the way to a 222-196 victory, but Nebraska won the match, 1050-1029, to move to 3-0. 

The fourth match of the day had the Huskers play No. 7 Maryville. The Saints got off to a hot start, taking game one 254-181 in dominant fashion. Both teams struggled with open frames in game two, but Maryville came out on top 188-167 to increase their lead. The Huskers struck a four-bagger to start game three on the way to a 208-179 win to cut Maryville’s lead to 621-556. The Saints answered back by taking game four 213-190, taking a near 100-pin lead. Maryville dominated in game five with a 245-193 win, handing Nebraska its first loss of the tournament by a score of 1079-919. 

The final match of the day against No. 4 Wichita State came down to the wire. At the start of the match, the Big Red elected to swap Hartzler out for Kayla Starr. The Shockers got out to an early lead with a 227-192 win in game one, but the Huskers would respond with a narrow 185-179 victory in game two to make the match total 406-377 in Wichita State’s favor. A close game three ended in favor of the Shockers 194-183. Game four was just as tight, but Wichita State once again won 182-180. Going into game five, the match total was 782-740 with the Shockers in the lead. Nebraska nearly pulled off the comeback in game five, opening with seven-straight strikes on the way to a 241-204 win but Wichita State held on for a 986-981 win. 

Nebraska will return to the lanes Saturday morning at 10 a.m. (central), for the first of five traditional team matches. NU will face No. 2 Vanderbilt to open Saturday’s action. 

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