Sam Houston Edges Ladyjacks In Opener
10/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Bowling
Oct. 17, 2010
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack bowling team opened the 2010 season Sunday with a dual match against Sam Houston State. The Ladyjacks dropped two games in standard format (960-874 and 948-939) before salvaging the day with an exciting 4-3 win in a best-of-seven Baker format contest to end the match.
"I thought we bowled well today, especially for a season opener with such a young team," head coach Laura Cramer said. "Sam Houston was just a little bit better. I was very pleased with our spirit and our enthusiasm. To lose those first two games then come back and win in Baker shows resiliency."
Sam Houston took a decisive win in the opener, toppling 960 pins to 874 for the Ladyjacks. Nicole Parkhurst led the way for SFA with a score of 195. She finished with just two open frames and left only two pins standing in the game. Ashli Rosenkranz' 180 was the next-best Ladyjack score, followed by Dustie Hammond with a 172, Madison Williams at 165 and Brianne Buckert's 162.
The Ladyjacks jumped out to an early lead in Game 2, as SFA rolled seven strikes in the first two frames. Sam Houston rallied, though, and the pin count was dead even heading into the anchors' final frames. Parkhurst rolled a strike - her fourth straight and seventh of the game - but the Bearkats answered with a strike of their own. Parkhurst left one pin standing on her next ball, and Sam Houston followed with another strike to all but seal the eight-pin win.
Parkhurst's 209 gave her the top two-game pin total on the team. Ronsenkranz led the Ladyjacks in Game 2 with a 218, leaving just one frame open. Hammond posted a 188, Buckert rolled a 182 and Williams put up a 137.
Cramer subbed Christie Nedved for Williams in the Baker match but kept her original lineup unchanged, otherwise. Sam Houston won the first game, 170-156, but SFA answered with consecutive wins in Games 2 and 3 (226-191 and 177-168). After a 186-160 Bearkat verdict in the fourth game, the Ladyjacks pulled back in front with a 220-157 win in the fifth. Sam Houston forced a decisive Game 7 with a 214-168 win in the sixth game, but SFA saved its best for last, rolling seven strikes and leaving just one pin standing in a victorious 244-pin effort in the final game.
The Ladyjacks will return to action on Oct. 29 for the Greater Ozark Invitational. The three-day tournament will be held in Springfield, Mo.
- SFA -
