Sunday, March 03, 2013

The #15 Valparaiso bowling team finished out the Central Missouri Women's Invitational in Kansas City, Mo. on Sunday, finishing the tournament in eighth place.

The Crusaders started out Sunday's action by facing #8 Sam Houston State in the best-of-seven baker format, and earned a hard-fought 4-3 victory. Valpo and SHSU split the first four games before SHSU moved ahead by taking game five. The Crusaders kept the match alive via a 194-155 victory in game six, and then earned the match win with a 207-169 victory in the finale.

The first four games of the first match of the day counted towards seeding for bracket play, and the Crusaders ended up seeded seventh, matched up against sixth-seeded #6 UW-Whitewater. Valpo took the opener before Whitewater captured the next three games, but the Crusaders stayed alive with a 232-226 win in game five. The two teams tied in game six, giving the Crusaders a chance to extend the match with a game seven victory, but UW-Whitewater downed Valpo 213-200 in the finale to finish off a 4-2-1 win.

Valpo's final match was a rematch against Sam Houston State, but this time, the Bearkats would come out the victors. The Crusaders gained a quick lead with a 223-217 win in game one, but SHSU took the next two games. Valpo evened up the match with a 195-132 victory in game four, but could not capture another game, as SHSU earned the 4-2 victory.

Valparaiso (54-59) concludes the regular season in two weekends at the Columbia 300 Music City Classic in Nashville, Tenn., hosted by Vanderbilt. The three-day event begins on Friday, March 15.