The #18 Valpo bowling team kicked off spring semester competition Friday with the first of three days of action at the Columbia 300 Saints Invitational, hosted by Maryville in St. Louis.
 
How It Happened

• Valpo opened the day, contested in the five-game baker format, against #16 Newman and promptly posted the 17^th-highest five-game baker score in program history in a 1048-925 win. The Beacons broke 200 in each of the first four games, highlighted by a 226 in game two.
• Valpo broke 200 in three games in its second match of the day, including its high game of the day with a 247 in game four, but an 81-pin deficit in game three was too much to overcome as the Beacons fell 1054-990 to #11 Sacred Heart.
• Valpo led by 26 pins after game one against #6 Wichita State in the third match slot before the Shockers pulled away for a 1074-906 win.
• The Beacons bounced back, cruising to a 1038-804 win over Western Illinois that featured three games of 200 or better, led by a 235 opening game.
• The day concluded with a 1018-910 defeat against #RV Oklahoma Christian.
• Valpo closed the day in 10^th place in the team standings out of 16 competitors, totaling 4,892 pins over its five matches.

 
Next Up
Valpo (32-23) continues action from St. Louis with traditional team matches on Saturday.