Huskers in First at Penguin Classic

Struthers, Ohio - The No. 5 Nebraska Cornhuskers went 4-1 during their first day of competition at the Penguin Classic, tallying a pinfall of 5,388 and finishing the day in first place. 

The Huskers faced No. 25 Niagara in their first five-game total pinfall baker match of the day and started with Anna Callan, Haley Swindle, Brenna Hartzler, Kayla Verstraete and Jillian Martin. In the first game, freshman Swindle recorded strikes in both of her frames, but Niagara ended on top, 187-168. The Huskers had a clean game two and finished with six strikes in a row for a 248 and the overall match lead, 416-347. Nebraska continued its streak into the third game, tallying 11 total strikes in a row, and extended the match lead with a 241 to Niagara’s 132. NU bowled another clean game in the fourth to hold the 240-pin advantage with one game to go. In game five, NU rolled a 229 and topped Niagara, 1,113-842, to start the day 1-0.  

Nebraska moved on to face Wright State in the second match of the day. The Huskers had a clean game one with seven strikes in a row to top the Raiders 265-171. NU tallied nine total strikes in game two for a 265 and extended its overall match lead to 530-367. In game three, Verstraete led the way with two strikes as the Cornhuskers bowled a 220 to Wright State’s 203. NU continued the momentum in game four, bowling a 191 and extending the total pin advantage to 196. In the fifth, Martin recorded four strikes as the Huskers rolled a 258 and closed out Wright State 1,199-963, to move to 2-0 on the day. 

In match three the Huskers faced No. 10 Duquesne, the first top-10 matchup for the Huskers of the season. NU recorded seven strikes and bowled a 225 in game one to top Duquesne 225-170. In game two, Nebraska bowled a 227, but the Dukes’ ten strikes led them over the Huskers, 258-227. The Big Red rolled a 196 in game three and again fell to Duquesne who took the overall match lead, 661-648. The Huskers had a clean game four which started with six strikes in a row as the Huskers would top the Dukes 257-187 and regain the overall match lead, 905-848. In game five, Nebraska bowled a 198 and topped Duquesne, 1,103-1,052, to move to 3-0. 

The Cornhusker met Walsh in the fourth match of the day. NU rolled a 202 in game one to top Walsh 202-183. The Big Red recorded eight strikes in game two for a 257 over the Cavalier’s 190. Martin’s three strike 10th frame would send Nebraska over Walsh in game three 194-188 and increase the overall match lead to 653-561. The Huskers bowled a 215 to hold the 180-pin advantage with one game to go. In game five, NU rolled a 203 and topped Walsh, 1,071-864, to move to 4-0 on the day. 

In the fifth and final match of day one, the Huskers faced No. 2 Arkansas State, the first top-five matchup for NU of the season. Nebraska bowled a 158 while the Red Wolves tallied nine strikes in game one, topping the Huskers, 237-158. In game two, Swindle and Verstraete recorded strikes in both of their frames, but Arkansas State ended on top 184-161, increasing the Red Wolves’ total pin advantage to 102. The Cornhuskers recorded five strikes in a row in game three and topped Arkansas State 224-198. The Huskers rolled a 193 to top the Red Wolves 193-173 with one game to go and a 56-pin deficit. In the fifth game, NU bowled a 166 and fell to Arkansas State, 986-902, ending the day 4-1. 

The Huskers return to the lanes tomorrow morning at 8:25 a.m. (CT) against Mercyhurst in a traditional match followed by matches against Morgan State, No. 17 Wichita State, No. 6 Youngstown State, No. 21 McKendree and Bryant.

Stay up to date with the action by following the Nebraska Women's Bowling Twitter (@HuskerBowling), Instagram (@huskerbowling) and Facebook.

Penguin Classic Current Standings (Pinfall after first day of competition):
No. 5 Nebraska (5,388)
No. 3 Youngstown State (5,203)
No. 17 Wichita State (5,043)
No. 10 Duquesne (5,007)
No. 2 Arkansas State (4,859)
No. 19 Valparaiso (4,744)
No. 21 McKendree (4,623)
Mercyhurst (4,594)
No. 25 Niagara (4,574)
Central Missouri (4,567)
Wright State (4,546)
Morgan State (4,467)
Roberts Wesleyan (4,390)
Bryant (4,243)
Lewis (4,233)
Walsh (4,105)