The #18 Valpo bowling team posted one of the top-10 five-game baker scores in program history Friday as the Beacons began the Flyer Classic in Lockport, Ill. on Friday.
 
How It Happened

• Valpo opened the day's action, contested in the five-game baker format, against host Lewis and fell behind from the start in an eventual 984-916 defeat. The Beacons were behind the eight ball from the onset in their next match as well, falling to #10 Maryville, 1027-906.
• Valpo led #17 Tulane by 14 pins going into the final game of its third match of the day, but ended up falling by a 928-863 final.
• The fourth match slot brought a test against the nation's top-ranked team in #1 Jacksonville State, and Valpo was up to the challenge from the beginning. The Beacons posted games of 232, 220, 222 and 218 in succession to carry a 35-pin lead into game five, but JSU rallied to earn a 1093-1079 victory with its fifth-game effort.
• The 1079 Valpo posted against JSU is tied for the ninth-best five-game baker score in program history, and is the second-highest score in that match format which resulted in a defeat.
• The Beacons ended the day on a winning note, downing #13 North Carolina A&T by a 936-911 final. Valpo got off to a strong start with a 215 in game one, but found itself trailing by 37 pins going into the final game before posting a 237 in game five for the come-from-behind win.
• Valpo tallied 4,700 pins over Friday's five matches, good for 13^th place in the 26-team field.

 
Next Up
Valpo (37-31) continues tournament play on Saturday with five traditional team matches, beginning at 9:25 a.m.