SMYRNA, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University women's bowling team is in 26th place after the opening day of the 2022 Music City Classic which is being held at Smyrna Lanes and hosted by Vanderbilt University.
The Pioneers are 26th in the 33-team tournament field with a total pinfall of 4,345 in their five Baker games on Friday. TU went 0-4 with a bye in its third game of the afternoon. All four losses came against nationally-ranked teams.
Tusculum opened with a 975-852 loss to No. 24 Monmouth University, followed by a narrow 888-885 setback to No. 20 Long Island University. The Pioneers bowled a team score of 873 in their bye game. TU dropped back-to-back losses to 17th-ranked Maryland Eastern Shore (940-871) and No. 3 Sam Houston State (1083-864).
This year's star-studded tournament includes 18 of the top-25 teams in the country including the top-nine in the nation.
McKendree, the No. 1 team in the land, has the first day lead with 5,300 pins and went 5-0 on the day. Stephen F. Austin (No. 8) is second, followed by host Vanderbilt (No. 4), Arkansas State (No. 6), Sam Houston State, Louisiana Tech (No. 7), Maryville, Mo. (No. 12), Maryland Eastern Shore, Long Island and Lincoln Memorial (No. 22) to round out the top-10.
The Pioneers (42-36) will play five traditional games on Saturday followed by three bracket position games on Sunday.
