Tenpin On Final Frame Won’t Fall as Wilmington Bowling Finishes Second at Wildcat DII/DIII Invite

Copyright 2019; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Dan Lauletta.
Copyright 2019; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Dan Lauletta.

NEW CASTLE, Del. - - It came down to the final frame on Sunday, but the Wilmington University bowling team fell in the championship match to Chestnut Hill, 4-3, to conclude the 2019 Wildcat DII/DIII Invite at Bowlerama.

The second place finish continues an excellent start to the 2019-20 season for the Wildcats, as they have now finished in the top three in the last three tournaments.

Going into Sunday as the number one seed, the Wildcats went up 2-1 against Chestnut Hill in the first Baker Bracket match of the day. But the Griffins battled back to take the final three games, including 219-214 and 198-188 games to close out the match, 4-2.

The Wildcats then dropped down and had to play Molloy for the right to bowl in the championship match. The Wildcats came out and won the first three games of the match, including putting up a 230 and a 247 in games two and three, respectively. The Lions extended the match with a win in the fourth game, but the Wildcats answered with a 203-154 victory to win the match, 4-1, and get another chance at Chestnut Hill in the championship.

Wilmington took the first swing, winning the opening game, 182-150, but then the Griffins fought back to win the next three games, including a 214-211 score in game two, to lead 3-1. The Wildcats then bowled a 216 to keep the match alive before a close-knit game six. The Wildcats were able to force a game seven with a 214-202 victory in a game six that came down to the final frame.

But the magic ran out for the Wildcats, dropping the final game, 224-215, as the tenth frame No. 10 pin wouldn't fall for Rachel Hirst.

The Wildcats are off for all of December and don't return to action until they return from Holiday Break in mid-January. They will travel to the Northeast Classic hosted by Sacred Heart and Long Island starting on January 17 at the AMF Bristol Pike Lanes in Croydon, Pennsylvania.