FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. --- The Tusculum University women's bowling team opened the 2021-22 season in grand fashion going 4-1 including three wins over nationally-ranked opponents on Friday in day one action of the Bearcat Hammer Open.

Tusculum victories included wins over top-ranked Nebraska, No. 3 Arkansas State and No. 21 Wisconsin-Whitewater. TU's only blemish came in the final contest of the day in a 1122-892 setback to No. 15 Maryville (Mo.).

The Pioneers finished the day with 4,461 total pins in their five Baker games and are currently in fifth place in the 16-team tournament field.

Tusculum opened the day with an 855-808 win over No. 21 Wisconsin-Whitewater and followed with an impressive 892-868 victory against third-ranked Arkansas State.

TU made it three straight with an 805-707 win over North Central before facing the No. 1 Nebraska and handed the Cornhuskers a 1017-1000 win.

Arkansas State leads after the first day with 4,824 pins while Nebraska is second with 4,745. McKendree, the top-ranked team in NCAA Division II/III and listed No. 2 overall is third with 4,675 pins. Maryville is fourth with 4,615 while Tusculum rounds out the top-five with 4461.

Lewis is sixth with 4,384, followed by Kentucky Wesleyan (4373), Wisconsin-Whitewater (4371), Central Missouri (4348), Aurora (4312), Quincy (4246), Drury (4232), Carroll (4131), Carthage (4099), North Central (4051) and Alabama A&M (3715).

Play continues on Saturday with five traditional matches followed by Sunday's bracket play to close out the tournament.

Tusculum Friday Results
TU 855, #21 Wisconsin-Whitewater 808
TU 892, #3 Arkansas St. 868
TU 805, North Central 707
TU 1017, #1 Nebraska 1000
#15 Maryville 1122, TU 892 

Team Results