Bracket
Opening Round Scores
Winner’s Bracket Round 2/Elimination Bracket Round 1 Scores
JONESBORO, Ark. – The 2017 Southland Bowling League Championship got underway on Friday morning with four opening round matches featuring all eight teams, followed by the second round of the winner’s bracket and first round of the elimination bracket.
Opening Round
No. 1 Arkansas State vs. No. 8 Louisiana Tech
The top-seeded Red Wolves dominated match one, winning the traditional game 1,014 to 832 over No. 8 Louisiana Tech. Arkansas State was led by senior Brooke Wood (226), while junior Haley Richard (221), with sophomore Nicole Mikaelian (213) also notched 200-plus games. Jadee Scott-Jones rolled a 199 while Jordan Richard registered 155.
Louisiana Tech was led by sophomore Sarah McComic with a score of 188.
Arkansas State handily took the victory in the baker total pinfall series, 948-780 to advance in the afternoon winner’s bracket.
No. 4 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 5 Monmouth
Fifth-seeded Monmouth upended the Ladyjacks in the traditional game, winning by a score of 982 to 856. The Hawks top performer Kaitlyn Reth led the way with a 214 while Demi May (208) and Julie Bianco (202) also broke the 200 mark.
The Ladyjacks had solid performances from Dakotah Hazlewood (205) and Stephanie Schwartz (184) but were bogged down by a pair of scores in the 140s from their leadoff bowlers.
Stephen F. Austin rallied in the baker games to force a best-of-seven baker series with the Hawks, winning 943 to 902 in total pinfall.
The Ladyjacks looked the part of the higher seed as they jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, but Monmouth would storm back and win four straight to take a 4-2 upset victory.
No. 3 Vanderbilt vs. No. 6 Tulane
The Commodores comfortably won the opening traditional game 1,039 to 876, led by a trio of 200-plus scores from Maria Bulanova (236), Emily Rigney (225) and Kristin Quah (208). Katie Stark notched a 199 while Giselle Poss rolled a 171 to round out a strong top-end performance for Vanderbilt.
Tulane was led by their top season performer in Michelle Ng with a score of 203.
Vanderbilt faltered in the baker total pinfall series, falling by a score of 932 to 838. Tulane ended with an impressive 236 in their fifth baker game to seal the victory and force a best-of-seven series.
The Commodores and Green Wave went 1-1 to open the series before Vanderbilt jumped out to a 3-1 lead. They would command the rest of the series and seal a 4-1 victory to advance in the afternoon’s winner’s bracket.
No. 2 Sam Houston State vs. No. 7 Valparaiso
The Bearkats and Crusaders match-up saw some of the tightest contention of the day, with Sam Houston State narrowly edging Valparaiso to advance in the winner’s bracket. The Bearkats turned out a well-rounded performance in the traditional game to take a 932-840 victory.
Valparaiso kept things close in the baker total pinfall series but could not overcome two 200-plus games from the Bearkats, despite a 199 and 208 of their own. The Bearkats took the narrow baker series victory by a score of 919 to 914.
Advancers Bracket – Second Round
No. 1 Arkansas State vs. No. 5 Monmouth
The Red Wolves struggled early against the Hawks, trailing 557-504 after six frames played in the opening traditional game. Monmouth remained ahead 906-784 entering the last frame of play, but another pair of 200s from Haley Richard (223) and Nicole Mikaelian (202) helped carry the Red Wolves through a strong 10
th frame and a 953-920 victory.
The Hawks continued their impressive baker performances in the following total pinfall series, notching 195, 182 and 236 scores to hold off the Red Wolves 949-852 and force a best-of-seven baker series to decide who would advance to Saturday’s semifinals.
The Red Wolves flexed their muscle in the best-of-seven series, notching a 254, 245 and 247 en route to a convincing 4-1 final score to lock in their semifinal spot.
No. 2 Sam Houston State vs. No. 3 Vanderbilt
Sam Houston State was set on keeping their momentum, holding a solid 635-577 lead over Vanderbilt entering the last three frames of the traditional game. The Commodores closed the gap entering the final frame and edged ahead 867-865 entering the final bowlers. Freshman anchor Maria Bulanova left her 10
th frame open for Vanderbilt and Sam Houston State closed out confidently to take a narrow 892-883 win.
Vanderbilt had to fight again in the baker total pinfall series with the Bearkats, but closing the series with a 258 ensured a 983-929 victory to force a best-of-seven series.
The Commodores stepped up in the final baker series to take a 4-1 victory, leading off with a 212, 174 and 190 to jump out to a 3-0 lead. The Bearkats struck back with a 201 but Vanderbilt would close out with a 187 to punch their ticket to tomorrow’s advancers semifinal round against No. 1 Arkansas State.
Elimination Bracket – First Round
No. 4 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 8 Louisiana Tech
Stephen F. Austin looked to be in trouble against the eighth-seeded Lady Techsters, finding themselves in a 624-590 hole after the seventh frame. However, it would come down to the 10
th where the Ladyjacks showed their class. Dakotah Hazlewood and Stephanie Schwartz both notched three strikes in their tenth frames to seal a 947-898 victory.
Stephen F. Austin left nothing to chance in the baker total pinfall series, and despite a 220 and 191 from the Lady Techsters to close out their series, the Ladyjacks came away with a 953-897 victory to secure their advancement to round two of the elimination bracket.
No. 6 Tulane vs. No. 7 Valparaiso
The elimination match-up between the Green Wave and Crusaders opened with a tight traditional match-up that saw Tulane cling to a narrow 448-441 lead entering the final four frames of play. However, it was Valparaiso’s depth that would carry them to the finish with all five bowlers registering a 165 or higher, while Tulane could not outlast them with two bowlers in the 140s. The Crusaders took an 882-830 victory into the baker total pinfall series.
The Green Wave turned the tables in the five-game baker series, notching three 200-plus games and a 194 to defeat Valparaiso but over 100. Tulane would force a best-of-seven baker series with a 964-855 win.
After exchanging wins to open the best-of-seven series, Valparaiso would take the next two to jump out to a 3-1 lead. However, the Green Wave put together their best performances thus far, notching a monster trio of games (239, 216, 224), charging past the Crusaders to take a 4-3 victory and send Valparaiso home. Tulane advances to take on No. 5 Monmouth on Saturday.
Day two of competition will begin Saturday, March 25, beginning with the second round of the elimination bracket at 8 a.m., the semifinals of the advancers bracket and third round of the elimination bracket at 1 p.m., followed by the final round of the elimination bracket at 5 p.m.