NEWCASTLE, Delaware — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore went 3-2 on the opening day of the two-day Northeast Invite and hope to turn things up a notch in bracket play on Day 2 and stand in second place.

The Hawks dropped a 1,037-1,065 decision to Fairleigh Dickinson University in a traditional match to open the day, then fell again to the Knights 1,015-949 in Baker competition in the next match.

Back to traditional competition for the third battle of the day, Eastern Shore topped Chestnut Hill 1,147-834 and then again 1,026-920 back to Baker play. The Shore closed out the day with a 1,029-875 win against Felician University in in Traditional once again.

"The girls didn't start the day their best but they quickly regained their composure in match 3," Hawks coach Kayla Bandy said. "Tomorrow we look to start the day, the way we finished. It's time to get in the bracket and play like we know how. The girls have been filling frames now it's all about bowling with no a purpose and striking with teammates."

Alexandra Hernandez (Maracaibo, Venezuela) was in second place after three traditional matches with a three game average of 232.0. Brigitte Jacobs (Freeport, Illinois) was sixth with a 209.0 average.

The back-and-forth unconventional battle style of Day 1 wasn't a random decision.

"The format was designed to play teams back-to-back and begin to simulate mega matches which is what we will see at MEAC Championships," Bandy said.

The Hawks will begin Day 2 bracket play just like Day one, staring across the lane at first place Fairleigh Dickinson.