HOUSTON, Texas - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's bowling team is spending Valentine's Day weekend in Texas at the SFA Jacks Invitational and hoping for a gift of a high tournament finish from the state that traditionally hasn't showered them with gifts. On day one it was more of the same from the Lone Star State as it teased the team with solid pinfall while breaking their heart with some tough losses.

The Hawks opened the tournament taking on the Hawks, as they faced New Jersey's Monmouth University. While UMES finished the match with a respectable 974 tally, including a 246 in game four, it was the other Hawks who got hot, finishing the final three games with a 217, 243 and 233 to overcome a 147 in game two. UMES fell 1020-974, despite taking three of the five games.

Next up for UMES was the defending National Champion Sam Houston State Bearkats. The Hawks came out on fire, rolling with something to prove, putting up scores of 259, 226, 205, 227 and 223 to tally an impressive 1130. While the seventh-ranked Bearkats bowled a 1011, they couldn't overcome the high-scoring Hawks, who tossed the second-highest five-game Baker total in school history in the win.

UMES hoped to ride the momentum in their third match as they faced Tulane. The Green Wave recently fell out of the NTCA top-20 poll, but are still the top vote getter for non-ranked teams. They were excited to face the Hawks and posted a 1073, their highest match total of the day and UMES couldn't overcome the high scores, posting a solid 1025 in a loss. The Hawks rolled three games over 200 with a 214, 211 and 247. UMES was only down 40 after three games and took the lead after four with a 55 pin advantage but in game five the Green Wave tossed a 228 to UMES' 155 and it gave them a big upset win.

UP next for UMES was the ninth-ranked WarHawks of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The Hawks from Princess Anne got a game one win 226-213 to take the 13 pin lead. UWW edged out UMES in game two 205-201 to cut into the lead by four pins. But like game five of the Tulane match, UMES faltered in game three here, 246-155, giving the WarHawks a big lead. They padded that by five pins in game four and 18 in game five to end up with a 1062-958 win in a match UMES needed to win.

The Hawks next took on unranked Louisiana Tech and soared to a 968-823 win. They had a solid 233 in game three and 217 in game five, but also had a pesky game in the 150's again with a 158 in game two. Luckily, their opponent had less (150) and it allowed UMES to maintain the lead.

The final match of the day was a position round within each team's bracket. That meant UMES would face No. 15 Long Island who has been doing well of late, moving up two spots in the poll. Like UMES, they were another team bowling well, but seemingly running into a team getting hot at the right moment. LIU entered the sixth and final match of the day with a 1-4 record, while UMES wasn't much better at 2-3.

The Hawks flew over the Blackbirds in game one with a 218-177 win before LIU took the lead back with a commanding 247-171 win in game two. The Hawks struck back with a 235-193 win in game three but still trailed by just single pins. That lead grew in game four with a 289-189 win, not leaving the Hawks much to do but give up the 100 pins. UMES won gave five as well, 204-174, but winning those three wasn't enough in total pins, falling 1017-1080.

No. 1 Nebraska holds the edge on the day, sitting in first place with 6,581 pins to average an impressive 219.4 and a 4-1 record. The host Jacks of SFA are in second at 5-0 with 6,303 pins and an average of 210.1 Long Island surprised the field to finish the day in third with 6,159 pins and a 2053 average, but like UMES, saw some tough teams and managed just a 2-4 record. Sam Houston State went 5-1, their only loss to UMES and rolled 6,089 with a 203 average. UMES in fifth had 6,082 pins and averaged 202.7, the last team above 200.

The Hawks will face sixth place Central Missouri first thing in the morning in the position round. They averaged a 199 and went 4-1, taking advantage of an easier schedule. Vanderbilt, Monmouth, Wisconsin-Whitewater, who beat UMES and went 5-1, and Tulane rounded out the top ten.

On Saturday, the day starts again at 9:30 a.m. Central time and sill be a six matches of team games. They open with UCM in the position round. From there they face No. 1 Nebraska, SFA, Vanderbilt and Central Missouri again before a final inter-pool match.