Jan. 29, 2012
READING, Pa. – Vanderbilt finished fourth at the Kutztown Bowling Invitational Sunday, squandering a commanding 3-1 lead in the third-place match to Sacred Heart to leave the Hiester Lanes on a decidedly down note.
While third place was not the objective when the tournament began, it would have been a nice consolation prize given Friday’s disastrous start. But the Commodores never got their groove on at this 28-team tournament, the vast majority of those coming from the northeast. They managed a mild rally Saturday against softer opposition but it was too little, too late. Inconsistency was the culprit.
Sunday started on an uptick, taking down Delaware State in the best-of-seven Bakers and notching some quality scores in the process. The sunshine continued during the next match, brushing past Valparaiso by a comfortable 4-1 score to work its way up to the third-place match – the best finish the Commodores could hope for after missing out on the title bracket.
It appeared time to start warming up the team bus after Vanderbilt jumped to a commanding 3-1 advantage, posting a solid 257 score in the fourth game. Ironically that was the last game the `Dores could capture as they compiled lackluster scores of 178, 184 and 159 with the outcome on the line.
Give Sacred Heart its due; the Pioneers bowled well here as they have the majority of this season and their scores in game 5 and 6 of 219 and 224 kept the pressure on at all times.
Anchor Samantha Hesley was a big factor in the first games. Time and time again the senior came through in the 10th frame, once striking out to salvage a draw against Delaware State. Her 200 average Saturday put her in 12th place individually, Vanderbilt’s highest placer.
Vanderbilt stuck with a rotation of Brittni Hamilton, Kim Carper, Natalie Goodman, Jessica Earnest and Hesley throughout the day.
Maryland-Eastern Shore beat Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-1, to take home the team title. Vanderbilt’s next action comes next weekend at the Prairie View A&M Invitational.
VU 4.5 Delaware State 2.5
VU 203-198
D 206-200
D 181-165
VU 257-205
VU 217-210
T 204-204
VU 237-180
VU 4 Valparaiso 1
VU 194-180
VU 220-185
VU 247-218
Val 234-177
VU 200-187
Sacred Heart 4 VU 3
SH 242-231
VU 264-190
VU 161-151
VU 257-184
SH 219-178
SH 224-184
SH 176-159
