GASTONIA, N.C. --- The Tusculum Pioneers went 0-2 at the inaugural Conference Carolinas / Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship on Friday at Liberty Lanes. The Pioneers have been eliminated from the tournament.
The Pioneers, who are seeded fifth in the six-team, double-elimination tournament, opened with a 4-1 Best-of-7 Baker Playoff to No. 2 seed Emmanuel. TU won the first game 190-173, but the Lions answered by winning the next four games to clinch the match.
The Pioneers moved onto an elimination game against No. 6 seed Kentucky Wesleyan as the two teams battled it out in a seven-game thriller. TU won the first game by a single pin in a 236-235 slugfest. TU made it a 2-0 lead after claiming a 222-162 win in the second. The Panthers answered with three straight wins to take a 3-2 lead in the match. Tusculum posted a 187-154 victory in the sixth to send the match to a deciding game. KWC advanced with a 191-175 win to claim the 4-3 victory at eliminate the Pioneers.
Conference Carolinas / Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship
Friday, March 25, 2022
Round 1
Match 1: No. 1 Lincoln Memorial 4, No. 6 Kentucky Wesleyan 0
Match 2: No. 2 Emmanuel 4, No. 5 Tusculum 1
Match 3: No. 4 Belmont Abbey 4, No. 3 Walsh 1
Round 2
Match 4: No. 6 Kentucky Wesleyan 4, No. 5 Tusculum 3 (Tusculum eliminated)
Match 5: No .2 Emmanuel 4, No. 4 Belmont Abbey 2
Match 6: No. 1 Lincoln Memorial 4.5, Walsh 2.5 (Walsh eliminated)
Saturday, March 26, 2022
Round 3
Match 7: No. 6 Kentucky Wesleyan vs. No. 4 Belmont Abbey, 12 p.m. (Elimination Match)
Match 8: No. 1 Lincoln Memorial vs No. 2 Emmanuel, 12 p.m.
Round 4
Match 9: Loser Match 8 vs Winner Match 7, 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 27, 2022
Round 5 & 6
Match 10: Winner Match 8 vs Winner Match 9