No. 5 Huskers remain atop Penguin Classic after day two

Struthers, Ohio - The fifth-ranked Nebraska Bowling team ended day two of the Chelsea Gilliam Penguin Classic still in first place, shooting a total of 10,791 pins with a 215.8 average and maintaining a 9-1 record.

The Huskers began the day with their first traditional match against No. 2 Vanderbilt, a team that was an undefeated 5-0 on after day one. The Big Red's starters were Desiree Buchert, Kayla Starr, Brenna Hartzler and Karina Capron, with Haley Swindle playing the anchor. It was the same lineup that the Scarlet and Cream rode to a first place finish during Friday's contest. The lanes were not as forgiving to start day two, as both the Commodores and the Huskers struggled in a rock fight of a game. Nebraska was who came out on top 880-877 after clutch ninth and tenth frames from their lineup. The Huskers were led by Starr with 187 pins, followed by Capron (184), Hartzler (182) and Swindle (172), with Buchert tacking on 155.

Nebraska's next game was against defending national champions and first-ranked Jacksonville State, who entered the game at 3-3 after a win in match one. Keeping the same lineup, the Huskers got off to a better start than their last match, but the Gamecocks were even sharper. Jacksonville State came out on top after a close contest, defeating NU 1,084-1,069. The Huskers were again led by Starr (249), Hartzler (227) and Capron (203). Swindle added 199 while Buchert shot 191 to round out the Husker lineup in the their first loss of the tournament.

Now 6-1, Nebraska faced off against Western Illinois for match three, a team that was 2-5 heading into the contest. The Huskers shook off their loss to Jacksonville State and bowled a phenomenal game, trouncing the Leathernecks 1,065-806. Leading the way was Capron with a 235 game, followed by Swindle (227) and Starr (226)who shot within a pin of each other. Hartzler shot 193 and Buchert closed it out with 184.

The fourth match of the day featured No. 19 Bryant, who was then 4-4 on the weekend. The Huskers maintained their momentum from the previous match and dominated the Bulldogs the entire game, winning 1,151-1,023 with their highest match total of the day. Starr (267) once again led the Big Red with a game where she shot a nine-bagger, followed by Hartzler with 244, Capron and Buchert with 224 each and Swindle with 192.

The Huskers' last opponent of the day was No. 11 Wright State, a team standing at 6-3. The Raiders played it close, but the Huskers were able to pull off a nailbiter 1,112-1,083 game that came down to the last frame. Capron (239) and Buchert (232) led the team while Hartzler contributed 228 and Starr 211, but it was Swindle's three strikes in the tenth that gave herself 202 and Nebraska the win. The Huskers moved to 9-1 and positioned themselves as the No. 1 seed in Sunday's ladder bracket. 

At the day's end, Starr led the team in total pinfall with 1,140, good for a 228.0 average and fourth overall for the entire tournament, good enough to qualify for the All-Tournament team. She was followed by Capron in 14th with 1,085 and a 217.0 average, Hartzler in 17th with 1,074 and a 214.8 average, Swindle in 31st with 992 and a 198.4 average and Buchert in 33rd with 986 and an average of 197.2.

The Huskers return to the lanes tomorrow, Oct. 18, at 7:25 a.m. for the first match of the ladder bracket. They'll rematch against the No. 1 Jacksonville State Gamecocks in a best four-of-seven Baker match as the Huskers seek their third-straight Penguin Classic title.

Stay up to date with the action by following Nebraska Women's Bowling on X (@HuskerBowling), Instagram (@huskerbowling) and Facebook.