GLEN ALLEN, Va. - - It only took just over three years before the Wilmington University bowling team won a full-sized tournament, winning a pair of Baker Bracket matches on Sunday to claim the Virginia Union Invitational at the Bow American Short Pump.

The program began competition in the 2016-17 season, and the Wildcats are off to their best start to a season now in its fourth year. Sunday is the first tournament victory for the program under fourth-year head coach John York.

Heading into Sunday as the Number one seed, the Wildcats matched up against the fourth seeded Howard in the first round of the bracket. The Wildcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead over the Division I Bison, winning games 164-159, 143-136, and 201-154. Howard stayed alive with a win in the fourth game, 221-159, but that would be as close as they would get as the Wildcats closed out the match with their best game of the day, 211-169.

With the win, the Wildcats received a bye and into their first championship match.

They waited as nationally ranked No. 21 Mount St. Mary's advanced to the championship match as well, and the Mounties came out and took the first game, 191-161.

But the Wildcats picked it up from there, winning the next for games to win the match, 4-1, and the championship. They tied the match with a 208-187 win in game two, and then poured it on with a 259-182 win in game three. The Wildcats then won game four, 207-163, and closed out the championship with a 186-168 win in game five.

The Wildcats are off next weekend but return to action on Friday November 15 when they host their annual Wildcat DII Invitational. The three-day tournament will be held at the Bowlerama in New Castle, Delaware.