MILLSBORO, Del. - - The Wilmington University bowling team battled tough against five National Tenpin Coaches Association Nationally Ranked division one programs on Friday while competing at the Eastern Shore Hawk Classic at Millsboro Lanes.
The Wildcats bowled against four of the top seven teams in NCAA Division I, as well as five of the top 19 teams in the country. They finished with a total pinfall of 4,500 pins in five matches, going for a 180.0 average and a 14th place finish after day one.
The day started with the toughest matchup of the tournament, as they played nationally ranked No. 4 Vanderbilt. The Wildcats hung tough but ultimately lost, 981-853, but winning the third game of the series, 202-194.
It didn't get any easier as the Wildcats then squared off against No. 6 Sam Houston State, falling 1,056-916. The third match was the Wildcats' best of the day, putting down 943 pins, but it still wasn't enough as they fell to North Carolina A&T, 996-943.
The 7th ranked team was next for the Wildcats, as they battled Youngstown State, but ultimately fell, 966-926. The final match of the day didn't provide any breathing room either, as they face No. 19 Monmouth to close out Day 1. They fell to the Hawks, 924-862, to finish the afternoon.
They move on to traditional style bowling on Saturday, facing off against #14 Delaware State, hosts #20 Maryland Eastern Shore, then a bye round, and then back to action against #12 Sacred Heart before closing against #RV St. Francis.