Collegiate Ticker - Oct. 31, 2018

The Emmanuel men rolled a perfect game on the way to victory, while the Pikeville women emerged victorious at last weekend’s Mid-South Conference Smyrna Collegiate Baker Classic to kick off a spooky Halloween edition of the Collegiate Ticker.

The event was held at Smyrna Bowling Center in Smyrna, Tennessee, which has been a USBC Collegiate Sectional site since 2012. A total of 16 men’s varsity teams and 14 women’s varsity teams hit the lanes for the Tier II Baker event. The format featured 40 Baker games across two days to determine the winners based on total pinfall.

Emmanuel got off to a slow start during the opening day of competition, posting an opening four-game total of 734, while Martin Methodist jumped out to the early lead after a solid 842 block to begin Day 1. Emmanuel would immediately rebound, posting a set of 885 during games five through eight and would add two additional sets of 800 or better to hold a 14-pin advantage over Martin Methodist at the halfway point.

The two teams were separated by just 38 pins through 28 Baker games, with Emmanuel holding the edge. In games 29-32, Emmanuel exploded for a 906 set, highlighted by a 300 in Game 31. The Lions used that momentum for the final eight games and held on for a 141-pin victory.

The Pikeville women began competition at a low point with 138 in the opening game and finished their first four-game set with a 713 total.

But, the Bears were at their best during games 13-16 as they tossed a four-game set of 850, which included a 270 in Game 14. It was the highest game posted by any team in the women’s field. By the time Day 1 was complete, the Bears had built a comfortable 255-pin cushion which was more than enough to hold on during Day 2 for the victory.

In other USBC Collegiate action over the weekend:

- At the NCAA Bearcat Hammer Open in Fairview Heights, Illinois, top-seed Nebraska won the final three games to defeat No. 3 Vanderbilt, 4-2, to win the title.
 
- At the AHIBC I in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Indiana Tech men and Wright State women collected titles.

- At the AHIBC II in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Wright State women doubled up on conference titles during the weekend, while the Lawrence Tech men captured the title on the men’s side.

- At the Medaille College Tournament in Buffalo, New York, Medaille edged Roberts Wesleyan by seven pins to win the title.

- At the 10th annual Hammer Lion’s Classic in St. Charles, Missouri, the Ancilla women and McKendree men claimed bracket victories.

- At the SCAD Collegiate Shootout in Savannah, Georgia, the tournament host Savannah College of Art and Design-Savannah swept the men’s and women’s titles.

- At the Maple Syrup Classic in Lockport, New York, the Rochester Tech men held off Georgian College for the win.

For complete results and the full schedule for the 2018-2019 season, click here.