April 11, 2008
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Friday’s Game Two Recap: Vanderbilt 4, Sacred Heart 3
Friday’s Game One Recap: Maryland-Eastern Shore 4, Vanderbilt 0
Posted Friday at 5:12 p.m. CT
OMAHA, Neb. — Vanderbilt pushed aside nemesis Central Missouri State in Round 3 of the NCAA Bowling Championship and advanced to the “Final Four” grouping. The Commodores will be pitted against Maryland-Eastern Shore, who beat them to start the day.
Vanderbilt and Central Missouri traded victories on the right hand lane until the sixth and decisive game. The Commodores filled all but one frame on the tricky left lane while Central suffered three opens, giving Vanderbilt a 196-148 win and 4-2 advantage.
Vanderbilt bowled stronger than in the morning session, notching scores of 223, 179, 228, 173, 180 and 196 with the higher scores on the right lane until Game 6.
The key to the entire game came in Game 5. CMSU All-American Bryanna Caldwell needed to convert a single 10 pin spare to tie the match at 180 and send the game into a playoff. To nearly everyone’s surprise, the reliable anchor’s ball missed the 10 pin to the left, giving Vanderbilt a breath-taking 180-179 win and a 3 games to 2 advantage.
Should Vanderbilt win the upcoming game with UMES, the two teams will tangle tomorrow afternoon for the right to play in the championship game. If UMES repeats its victory, Vanderbilt’s season will end.
