Huskers Top 5 at Mid-Winter Invite

Jonesboro, Ark. - The first ranked Nebraska bowling team went 2-2 in its first day of competition at the Mid-Winter Invitational, tallying a total pinfall of 5,234 and finishing in fourth place. 

The Big Red started Friday morning against Alabama State in its first five-game total pinfall baker match. NU started with Haley Swindle, Kayla Starr, Kayla Verstraete, Anna Callan and Jillian Martin. The Huskers struggled in their opening game, recording only one strike until Martin struckout in the 10th frame, scoring a 144. The Cornhuskers bounced back in game two, tallying four-straight strikes and six total as Nebraska topped the Hornets, 216-181. In game three, the Big Red took down Alabama State, 194-166, off of four strikes to end the game, bringing the Huskers’ overall match lead to 554-484. NU tallied seven strikes and rolled a 233 in the fourth over the Hornets’ 166, increasing the Huskers’ total-pin advantage to 137. Nebraska substituted Brenna Hartzler for Swindle in game five as the Cornhuskers rolled a 203 and defeated Alabama State, 990-872. 

NU moved on to face No. 3 Jacksonville State in match two. The Huskers bowled a 160 behind a struckout 10th frame by Martin, but were topped by the Gamecocks, 236-160. Jacksonville State downed NU again in game two, 213-206, despite the Cornhuskers’ six strikes, as the Gamecocks pushed the total-pin advantage to 83. In game three, Jacksonville State tallied five strikes to close the game, taking down the Huskers again, 238-191, as the Gamecocks took a 687-557 lead in the match. In the fourth, NU bowled a 231, but were no match for Jacksonville State’s 289, as the Gamecocks increased their total-pin advantage to 188 going into the final game. The Cornhuskers opened game five with three strikes and tallied six straight to end to score a 243, dropping the match to Jacksonville State, 1,204-1,031. 

The Huskers met No. 10 Maryville in the third match. The Cornhuskers bowled a clean game one with five strikes, rolling a 216 over Maryville’s 171. Each Husker rolled a strike in the second as the team bowled a clean game and a 236, topping the Saints to take a 452-367 overall match lead. Maryville tallied six consecutive strikes in the third as the Saints topped the Big Red, 231-190, despite seven strikes by Nebraska. NU came back in game four with seven straight strikes to top Maryville, 244-172, increasing their match lead to 846-770. In game five, the Huskers bowled a 188 over the Saints’ 170, to defeat Maryville, 1,074-940, moving to 2-1 on the day. 

The Cornhuskers played No. 9 Stephen F. Austin in the fourth match of the day. Nebraska subbed out Starr for Karina Capron in game one as the Huskers bowled a 163, falling to the Ladyjacks’ 193. The Ladyjacks put up 10 strikes in the second to NU’s four, topping the Huskers, 245-193, as Stephen F. Austin held a 82 total-pin advantage. The Big Red tallied four-straight strikes late in game three and recorded seven total to top Stephen F. Austin, 218-202, bringing the Ladyjacks’ total-pin lead to 66. Nebraska recorded three strikes to start game four with five more to end as the Huskers rolled a 238, bringing the overall match to 821-812 in favor of Stephen F. Austin. With a chance to steal a win from Stephen F. Austin in the last game of the match, the Cornhuskers put up seven strikes and a 215, but were topped by the Ladyjacks’ 216, as Stephen F. Austin won the match, 1,037-1,027. 

After going 2-2 through four matches, the Huskers finished with a bye in the fifth match. In game one, NU tallied six strikes and bowled a 204. Each Husker recorded a strike in the second as the team tallied seven total, scoring a 224. Desiree Buchert was subbed in for Capron in game three as the team rolled a 213. The Cornhuskers tallied five consecutive strikes to start game four and recorded five more to bowl a clean 278. In the fifth, the Big Red bowled a 193 to close out their bye match, garnering a pinfall of 1,112. 

The Huskers return to the lanes tomorrow morning at 9:25 a.m. (CT) against No. 14 Wisconsin-Whitewater in a traditional match followed by matches against No. 5 Youngstown State, No. 7 Wichita State, No. 17 Alabama Birmingham (UAB) and No. 8 Sam Houston. 

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

Mid-Winter Invitational Top 10 Standings (Pinfall After First Day of Competition)
No. 3 Jacksonville State (5,349)
No. 2 Vanderbilt (5,283)
No. 5 Youngstown State (5,260)
No. 1 Nebraska (5,234)
No. 14 Wisconsin-Whitewater (5,142)
No. 17 Alabama Birmingham (UAB) (5,118)
No. 9 Stephen F. Austin (5,067)
No. 4 Arkansas State (5,027)
No. 7 Wichita State (4,990)
No. 10 Maryville (4,984)