LIMERICK, Pa. - - In its first action of the New Year, the Wilmington University bowling team competed at the Griffin Baker Classic this weekend, finishing in 13th while going 4-5 in head-to-head matches at the Limerick Lanes hosted by Chestnut Hill.
In five matches on Saturday, the Wildcats put down a total of 4,186 pins, going for 167.4 per game. The Wildcats went 2-3 in the five Baker Matches on Saturday, sitting in 11th place overall after the first day.
The tournament started with losses to #20 Fairleigh Dickinson, 900-745, and Monmouth, 1085-830, before picking up a pair of victories against St. Thomas Aquinas, 830-579, and Wagner, 901-850. Saturday closed with the Wildcats' second-best score of the afternoon, but falling to Belmont Abbey, 1010-880.
Sunday started with two more tough Baker Matches, falling to #19 Merrimack, 794-781, and #RV Kutztown, 913-840, to close out tournament play.
Seeded 13th, the Wildcats took on St. Thomas Aquinas in the first bracket style match. They quickly jumped up on the Spartans, 3-0, bowling their best game, 193-124, in game three. The Spartans stayed alive with a win in game four, but then the Wildcats closed the door with a 154-127 win in game five, to win the match, 4-1.
The Wildcats advanced to face Alvernia, again jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead with their best game coming in game three, 194-168. Alvernia took games four and five, including a close 144-142 win in game five to stay alive, but then the Wildcats closed the door with a 153-145 win in game six to win the match, 4-2, and finish in 13th place.
Monmouth defeated Belmont Abbey and then Fairleigh Dickinson in seven games to win the Tournament. Delaware State defeated Belmont Abbey for third place while CACC foe Felician defeated Merrimack and Kutztown to take fifth place.
The Wildcats return to action on Friday, February 14, when they host the Wildcat DII Invitational. The three-day tournament will take place at Bowlerama in New Castle, Delaware.