NEW CASTLE, Del. - - A split conversion in game six of the championship allowed the Wilmington University bowling team to get over the hump and win in bracket play, defeating Kutztown to capture the Wildcat DII/DIII Invite on Sunday at Bowlerama.
Sunday was the third consecutive tournament in which the Wildcats qualified as the No. 1 seed going into bracket play, but they stumbled down the stretch until today.
The Wildcats started Sunday with facing the No. 2 seed, Emmanuel. The Wildcats jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Baker match, bowling games of 188, 201, and 244. But Emmanuel didn't roll over, as they battled all the back to force a seventh and deciding game, including close games of 233-224 and 215-211. The Wildcats pulled it out in game seven though, winning 195-173, to advance to the Championship match.
Third-seeded Kutztown defeated Mercyhurst and Emmanuel to reach the Championship, beating Emmanuel in seven games again. The Wildcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead with wins of 191-146 and 190-176, but then the Golden Bears bounced back. Kutztown won the next two games, 190-177, and 192-185, but then the Wildcats closed to within one win of the match with a 169-146 victory in game five.
Kutztown jumped out to the lead in game six, but on her second roll of the game, Sydney Jones connected with a strike, and then Logan Brown bowled a strike with her first ball of the 10th frame. Brown's second ball resulted in a 2-10 split, and she needed both to surpass the Golden Bears and seal the victory with her third ball of the 10th frame. She did just that, picking up the split by hitting the 2-pin into the 10, ending the match, 202-201, and 4-2.
Kutztown finished second and Felician finished third after defeating Emmanuel in a bowl-off eighth game due to a tie.
The Wildcats remain home for their next tournament, as they are hosting the second CACC Meet of the season starting on Saturday, March 2. This tournament will help determine final qualification and seeding for the 2023-24 CACC Bowling Championship later in March. The CACC Meet 2 will again be at Bowlerama.
Click here to see the final roll: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3gBRm4R9T0/