March 13, 2010
SMYRNA, Tenn. — Vanderbilt finished the second of three days of the Columbia 300 Music City Classic in second place and will be in contention to defend its 2009 championship when play resumes Sunday morning.
The Commodores finished 192 pins behind Nebraska after six Baker games and yesterday’s six team games. Arkansas State was 339 pins back and Sacred Heart was an encouraging fourth in this field that contains 16 of the Top 20 teams in the country.
Sunday morning bowling begins at 8:30 in a bracketed Baker format that will be double-elimination, best of four games. The top four teams are in position to win the title; Vanderbilt and Nebraska will square off while Arkansas State meets Sacred Heart. A team can lose the opener and still come back in the loser’s bracket to win.
Saturday’s Vanderbilt play was steady if not spectacular. The highlight of the afternoon came in the position where No. 2 Vanderbilt hooked up with Nebraska’s pin leaders in what became an exciting and high level shoot-out.
The Commodores shot 223 to win the opening game by 20 pins but Nebraska came back to take a 236-214 game. The Huskers managed to win two narrow margins to win the game by just 14 pins in what was the best match of the day.
For Coach John Williamson, the day’s review was mixed.
“I was kinda disappointed in our enthusiasm and moderate intensity during the majority of the day,” he noted. “But I was very proud of our three seniors, especially in that Nebraska match. Nebraska was good all day and we had to make shots to compete. Our three seniors did just that.”
Vanderbilt’s Baker lineup contained a surprise with senior Ashley Belden getting into the starting lineup (the second slot). The New Mexico product said she learned she was going to start moments before the day’s first game.
“To be honest I was somewhat surprised to get into the lineup,” Belden said. “Our lineup yesterday did a good job so I thought it was an honor just to get in there today. Since I haven’t been in the lineup for some time my confidence was shaky at first and I was just trying to make spares. But as the day went on, Coach told me to be aggressive and I felt stronger as the day progressed.”
Williamson said he wanted to give the veteran her opportunity on Senior Weekend but realized she was throwing a good ball and left her in all day.
Complete statistical information for all teams and Sunday’s bracket can be found on the attached spread sheet.
VANDERBILT GAME CAPSULES
Game one with Alabama A & M was broken open in the second Baker when the Dores enjoyed a 59 pin margin of victory. Brittany Garcia was dialed in all four games with five strikes and three spares. Josie Earnest got the magic back, striking out in the first game and generally rolling the ball with more confidence than she did just 24 hours earlier.
Vanderbilt dominated the second game, save for the third game when Hampton notched a nice 202 score. Garcia continued to bowl flawlessly and Brittni Hamilton was quietly excellent. With a clean fourth game over the demanding oil pattern and two scores above 200, the Black and Gold ate into Nebraska’s overall team lead, trailing but just 19 pins over the eight games.
The Commodores had another easy time dispatching Kutztown, 783-620. While none of the VU scores were eye-popping, the steady, grind-it-out battle plan worked well. Josie Earnest is having the kind of day Vanderbilt has appreciated for four years while Hamilton was consistent, filling all her frames with half being strikes.
Vanderbilt struggled to a lackluster win in the next game with an inspired Florida A & M squad looking for the upset. The Rattlers actually won the second and third games by narrow margins but a 38 pin win in the fourth game sealed it for the Black and Gold.
Things stayed close in the fifth game against New Jersey City. The `Dores prevailed by just seven pins and needed anchor Josie Earnest to mark and then get significant pin count to win the game. The All-American came through with a spare and a strike after the Gothic Knights had crafted an excellent 228 finale.
VU 730 Alabama A & M 610
VU 188-187
VU 192-133
VU 182-156
VU 168-134
VU 773 Hampton 654
VU 178-143
VU 212-146
H 202-180
VU 203-163
VU 783 Kutztown 621
VU 189-168
VU 220-150
VU 190-150
VU 184-163
VU 738 Florida A & M 698
VU 189 – 168
F 186-176
F 200-191
VU 182-144
VU 788 New Jersey City 781
VU 187-178
VU 194-181
VU 212-194
NJ 228-195
Position Round
Nebraska 836 VU 822
VU 223-203
N 236-214
N 197-190
N 199-195
