ERIE, Pa. (April 9, 2022) – Pushing the No. 1 overall team in the country to the absolute brink, Mount St. Mary's bowling fell two Baker games shy of being crowned Erie Regional Champions. The Mount's spectacular NCAA run completes as a regional finalist with three tournament victories under their belt.
Two of those wins came Saturday, knocking out Medaille in an elimination before defeating No. 1 McKendree to force a winner-take-all best-of-seven Baker round. The Bearcats advanced, winning the bracket play 4-2.
Mount: 1 | Medaille: 0 (828-859, 1005-943, 4-0)
Traditional play went down to the wire, but the Mavericks once again dug the Mount an early hole. But like Friday, the Mountaineers roared back to post four digits in Baker play to push the mega match to brackets. Capped off by a 289 game where the team converted the first 10 strikes for a program record score in Bakers, the Mount swept by Medaille, setting up a do-or-die with the top seed.
Mount: 1 | McKendree: 0 (915-886, 1027-992)
Needing to take two contests in the double elimination tournament, Mount St. Mary's set out to make quick work of the Bearcats.
Rebecca Dodson and
Alyssa Alexander proved pivotal late in traditionals, filling frames to put the squad over the edge. Baker play was more impressive as the Mount built a 100 pin lead after two games. The advantage was more than enough to hold off a 243 Bearcat charge in the final foray and ensure a mega match sweep.
Mount: 2 | McKendree: 4
With the spot in Columbus on the line, Mount St. Mary's held on 170-163 to deal the first blow. The right side of the pair was more favorable, and each of the first four wins went to the team bowling on that lane. All square at 2-2, McKendree made a strong run in game five but left enough of a window open for the Mount. Needing two strikes, the second shot sailed right of the head pin to give the Bearcats the win. That was the momentum push for McKendree to triumph in the sixth game and punch their ticket to nationals.
The USBC Nationals still remain, occurring in late April in Chicago.
