MADISON, Wis. --- The Tusculum University women's bowling team went a perfect 5-0 on the day, including its second victory over a nationally-ranked opponent as the Pioneers competed in day two action at the Warhawk Classic.
The three-day, 12-team tournament is being hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at the Bowl-A-Vard Lanes.
Tusculum recorded wins against Dominican (Ill.) University, Valparaiso University, Marian (Wis.) University, Aurora University and 13th-ranked Lincoln Memorial University, for TU's second win against a nationally-ranked foe. The Pioneers knocked off No. 14 Tulane earlier this season.
TU's Abbygale Hunt led the Pioneers on Saturday averaging 191.4 which is the 12th-best average in the tournament. Hunt accounted for the top score in three of Tusculum's victories including a 215 in TU's 942-910 win over Lincoln Memorial. In the LMU match, sophomore Tacey Ballen bowled a 203 for the Black and Orange.
The Pioneers opened the morning with an 880-655 victory over Dominican as Erin Burkart led the charge as she logged a 200 for the win.
Tusculum followed that triumph with an 845-818 win over Valparaiso as Raycine Mortensen bowled a 213 to pace the Pioneers.
After the win over LMU, Tusculum took on Marian University and logged an 854-749 decision in the win column as Hunt and Mortensen each bowled 180 for the Pioneers.
Tusculum established a new TU traditional format scoring record in a 1,035-848 win over Aurora University. Four Pioneers eclipsed the 200-plateau including Hunt's 239. Mortensen scored 224, while Samantha England bowled 223 in her lone action of the afternoon. Alexa Tieto scored 205 to close out her day for the Pioneers. TU's 1,035 total was the second-best total on Saturday of the 12 programs with Maryville University's 1,047 pins against Lewis University being the top standard.
Mortensen finished the afternoon with a 190 average which is 13th in the tournament. Tieto is 24th with her 174.4 average, while Ballen is 25th bowling at a 174.0 clip for Tusculum.
The Pioneers climbed up a spot and are sixth in the tournament with 8,885 total pins. Tusculum improves to 6-4 this weekend and 17-18 on the year.
Tusculum will open Sunday morning play against No. 12 Central Missouri to close out the second round of the tournament before Baker-Playoff format matches to close out the Warhawk Classic.