ARLTINGTON, Texas — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore opened competition at the Prairie View A&M Invitational with a bang topping Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rival North Carolina A&T State 1,034-911. But from there the Hawks dropped three tough battles before winning the final against the host squad 1042-873 to finish 2-3 on the day.

The second match saw the Hawks (59-22, 12-0 MEAC) fell to Sam Houston State 1,108-974. The third match was a 985-906 loss to Arkansas State and the fourth match was a back-and-forth battle with Fairleigh Dickinson that left the Shore on the wrong end of a whisper-thin 951-950 margin.

While the day's record wasn't ideal, the Hawks faced five teams in the National Tenpins Coaches Association Top 25 and the approach the took to the competition was what coach Kayla Bandy wants to see.

"The girls did great as a group!" Bandy said. "They played the lanes well. We are looking to fill more frames tomorrow. We are hungry."

Day 2 features five Traditional matches.