Photo courtesy of Arkansas State University
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (4/12/24) – Opening play among the final four teams in the National Collegiate Bowling Championship at Thunderbowl Lanes, second-seeded Arkansas State defeated third-seeded Youngstown State 2-0 in a mega-match Friday morning.
With the win, A-State advances to the national semifinal against top-seeded Jacksonville State at 2 p.m. (CT). The winner clinches a spot in the national championship Baker best-of-seven match Saturday at 8 p.m. (CT) on ESPNU. The loser would play in an elimination match Saturday at 8 a.m. (CT) with that winner advancing to the national championship match.
The Red Wolves took the traditional point by a tally of 987-860. Fifth-year seniors Emma Stull (212) and Faith Welch (210) led A-State in the match with Stull posting five-straight strikes from the second to sixth frame and Welch bagging five of six strikes at one point in her game. Brooklyn Buchanan (195) and Karli VanDuinen (193) were just short of 200 while Saralyne Nassberg added 177 pins.
Youngstown State built a 23-pin advantage over the first two games of Baker 5-game total pinfall, taking game one (201-190) and two (183-171). A-State rolled 11-straight strikes from the back five of game three to the front six of game four building a 57-pin lead going into game five. A 205-181 advantage in game three gave the Red Wolves a 1-pin advantage after three games and a 245-189 tally in game four built the 811-754 lead heading to the final game. The Red Wolves stayed hot posting a 248-202 advantage in game five to take the point 1,059-956.
A-State and No. 1 Jacksonville State meet at 2 p.m. (CT) with the live stream available on NCAA.com.
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