SMYRNA, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University women's bowling team faced three top-15 teams to open the 2021 Music City Classic. The three-day, 19-team tournament is being held at Smyrna Lanes and hosted by Vanderbilt University.
The Pioneers posted a 1-4 record in Friday's Baker 5-Game format matches with two of their losses coming by 25 pins or less.
Tusculum is 15th in the tournament standings with 4,457 total pins in its five matches on Friday.
Tusculum opened the day with Kentucky Wesleyan and lost to the Panthers by the narrowest of margins, 906-900. TU next faced fourth-ranked North Carolina A&T as the Aggies edged the Pioneers 886-861.
TU bounced back with a 948-893 in impressive win over Jackson State, who, like the Pioneers, received votes in the latest NTCA National Poll last month.
Tusculum closed the day with losses to top-ranked McKendree (1061-882) and No. 15 Lincoln Memorial (924-866).
McKendree leads the tournament with 5,253 pins while Nebraska is second with 5,083 pins, Stephen F. Austin is third with 5,019, followed by Louisiana Tech (4,972), Central Missouri (4,824), Tulane (4,778), Sam Houston State (4,757), North Carolina A&T (4,744), Wisconsin-Whitewater (4,585), Jackson State (4,572), Maryville, Mo. (4,571), Lincoln Memorial (4,522), Valparaiso (4,505), Vanderbilt (4,480), Tusculum (4,457), Alabama State (4,403), Kentucky Wesleyan (4,336), UAB (4,201) and Spalding (3,580).
The Pioneers will play five traditional format matches on Saturday with four of those coming against nationally-ranked foes. Tusculum will open against No. 14 Maryville (Mo.) and No. 22 Central Missouri. Alabama State, who is receiving votes in the latest NTCA Poll, will be TU's third opponent of the day before closing out day two against No. 5 Nebraska and No. 23 Wisconsin-Whitewater.
The tournament will conclude on Sunday with the bracket portion of the event.
