PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (9-9) picked up a huge win against National Tenpin Coaches Association No. 1 Nebraska in its third match at the Track Kat Klash on Friday (Nov. 5), but inconsistent shooting saw the Hawks finish Day 1 with a 2-3 record, but in seventh place overall.

"I don't think we are surprised that we won today against Nebraska," head coach Roger Petrin said. "This game can be very hit or miss on who you play and catching a team at the right time. I think we caught them at the right time and we bowled really well and we scored really well. The rest of the way was just one of those things where we  were feeling really good and I think we lost focus because we got to such a good high inside that match against the Cornhuskers and we started missing spares the following match.

"When you are missing spares and you are going through the transition of the oil pattern at the same time that is when you are going to shoot a pretty low score, which is what we did."

The Hawks opened the day with a 959-918 loss to No. 9 Louisiana Tech and then turned around to win the second Team Baker match 1,009-876 against Southern University.

Eastern Shore then topped No 1 Nebraska in the third match of the day 1,105-999. The Hawks' score was good enough for 8^th overall in program history in 5-game Baker play.

"If you look at the last event we bowled at, we never made it ahead of seventh place at any point," Petrin said. "At some point today we were in third place, so in that alone we made progress. Are we in seventh right now? Absolutely, but we were in a position where we were bowling well and doing the right things and we just lost focus. We have a young team and we need to learn we are down with that match and we won, but now it's on to the next one."

The letdown came in the next match with No. 15 Maryville when The Shore managed 837 versus 960 for the Saints in the loss. The Day ended with another tough match with No. 18 Lincoln Memorial, which the Hawks lost 968-944.

"During our 830 game, we were doing the right things and making moves," Petrin said. "It was just happening too slowly and while that was happening we were missing spares. Our spare shooting up until that match was good."

Junior Alejandra Amezcua (Baja California, Mexico) was the strongest performer of the day for the Hawks and the team looked to play off her as the day moved on.

"She was pretty lights out today," Petrin said. "It was pretty evident in the first two matches, I think she might have had the best look in the building. From what I saw she had the pocket from everywhere and she was striking from everywhere. Then the 830-came around and she lost the look of it. But the last two matches we made some adjustments and she was right back in it. She struck a ton today."

Day two will begin at 9:30 a.m. with five Traditional matches.

"I think last event we bowled better in the traditional format, but the next day we turned around and bowled really well on Sunday which was Baker," Petrin said. "I think we might see something we saw last time where maybe this was just our worst day and we were just learning what the transition is like and knowing what we need to do  and when to do it.
"Then we need to execute the following day, based on what the transition showed us today."