HARROGATE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University women's bowling team posted a 3-2 record on Friday as the Pioneers are in third place after day one of the 2021 Railsplitter Classic. The three-day, eight-team tournament is being held at Hillcrest Lanes and hosted by Lincoln Memorial University.
Tusculum (7-10) opened the day with a 915-832 win over Valparaiso University and followed with a 935-836 triumph over Mercyhurst University. TU matched up against No. 11 LMU as the Railspiltters edged the Pioneers by a 1004-957 score. Tusculum bounced back with a convincing 903-684 victory over Spalding University.
After the first four matches, Tusculum was in second place with 3,710 pins and faced off again against LMU (1st – 3914 pins) in a position round match to close out day one. LMU came away with a 995-851 win over the Black & Orange to move into first in the team standings with 4,909 total pins.
UAB is second with 4,585 total pins as the Blazers went 5-0 on Friday. Tusculum is third with 4,561 pins, followed by Kentucky Wesleyan (4,371), Valparaiso (4,334), Mercyhurst (4,253), Spalding (3,638) and Belmont Abbey (3,602).
The Pioneers will play five traditional scored matches on Saturday. Tusculum opens Saturday against No. 23 Kentucky Wesleyan. The Pioneers will face national-power UAB, followed by Belmont Abbey and a rematch with UAB in the fourth outing of the day. The final match on Saturday will be a position round game determined by total pinfall.
The tournament will conclude on Sunday with bracket play and three best-of-seven Baker matches.
