Pioneers defeat eighth ranked opponent in day two of Wildcat Classic

Pioneers defeat eighth ranked opponent in day two of Wildcat Classic

ORLANDO, Fla. --- The Tusculum University women's bowling team went 2-3 on Saturday, including its second win of the year over nationally-ranked Tulane in day two action of the 2020 Wildcat Classic. The three-day, 11-team tournament is being hosted by Bethune-Cookman University and held at the Boardwalk Bowl.

The Pioneers 8,600 total pins has them in eighth place in the tournament after its traditional scored matches on Saturday.

Tusculum (37-49) opened the day with a 928-834 loss to St. Francis-Brooklyn as Erin Burkart led the Pioneers with a 198.  TU bounced back by knocking off the host Wildcats, 809-674 as Burkart was the top performer with her 184, While Raycine Mortensen and Alexa Tieto bowled 176 and 171, respectively.

Mortensen bowled a 213 in TU's 883-850 setback to Florida A&M. The Pioneers faced off against defending NCAA national champion Stephen F. Austin in the fourth match of the day as the seventh-ranked Lumberjacks came away with a 954-853 triumph.

Tusculum closed out the day in strong fashion though as Burkart bowled 216 and Mortensen tallied a 213 for a second time on the day as TU defeated No. 16 Tulane, 949-905. In their second win over the Green Wave this year, Tieto contributed 191 as the Pioneers posted their eighth victory over a nationally-ranked opponent in TU's inaugural campaign.

The Pioneers run at the Wildcat Classic will come to an abbreviated halt as two of its team members will be unable to finish dropping Tusculum to four competitors, one shy of the required five participants.

TU will return to action next month as they close out the regular season Mar. 6-8 at the Music City Classic in Smyrna, Tennessee.