LAS VEGAS, Nevada — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore went 3-2 in Traditional play on Day 2 at the Stormin' Blue & White Classic including a win against National Tenpin Coaches Association No. 17 Tulane. But the key for the day was the solid scoring as the Hawks head into Day 3 in fourth place with a 203.7 average over two days and — more importantly — a chance at the event title in bracket play on Tuesday.
"You could say we finished slow, but I feel like we bowled pretty well today all the way around," Petrin said. "We were a little slow in the starts of the losses and it just took us a little bit to get going, but we were able to finish strong and put up a decent amount of strikes in the middle of some of those games and come away with a good score, just not a win. I'm happy to have fourth and the chance to win it all."
The Hawks (38-17, 6-2 MEAC) started the day with a 1171-912 victory against No 17 Tulane and followed that up with a 1038-957 win against Daemen University (New York).
"The start was great," Petrin said. "There is not much I would change. We were performing at a very high level as a team and again I didn't have to do much. The team communicated through it and they really communicated all day. Our lowest set was 966 so it was a good day."
UMES fell to No. 9 Louisiana Tech 1046-1015 in the third match before topping Spalding 966-715. The Day's finale saw the Hawks fall to No. 4 Nebraska 1012-972.
"We were just trying to make sure that we kept fourth place during the last match," Petrin said. "We were bowling against Nebraska, but we were only 28 pins ahead of Louisiana Tech going into the last set. We were 213 ahead of Maryville and they popped off an 1150, so from my perspective as a coach I was watching the scores. Fortunately the girls were able to hold on strong all the way to the end."
Maryville finished just 17 pins behind the Hawks and in fifth place while Louisiana Tech was fifth. McKendree and Vanderbilt are seeded first and second respectively. UMES will open bracket play with third seeded Nebraska.
"If we are in the top four then we are going to play good teams," Petrin said. "And if we are in the top four then we are a good team."
Brooke Roberts (Port Orange, Florida) finished in third place as an individual with a five-game average of 221.60 and made the All-Tournament Team. Her high game of 255 came in the first match against Tulane.
"She struck more than I realized when I went back and looked at the stats," Petrins said. "She struck 57% of the time and she struck every ninth frame."
Alejandra Amezcua (Baja California, Mexico) was 12th with a 212.40 average over five Traditional games — her best finish of the season. Gabriella Ochoa Hubbard (Nogales, Sonora, Mexico) finished 18th with a 207.60 average and freshman Mariana Santos (Jumandi, Colombia) put up a 203.00 average.
