WOODBRIDGE, Va. – The Jacksonville State bowling team closed out the fall portion of its inaugural season by winning its second-straight tournament title on Sunday.
 
The Gamecocks (33-6) rolled their way into the top seed in Sunday's bracket at the Hawk Classic by disposing of Merrimack in the final traditional match of the weekend and then beat LA Tech in the semifinals and Youngstown State in the title match. The title comes just one week after winning the first title in program history at the Ladyjack Classic.
 
It was just the third tournament in the program's young history and ended with Jax State's third appearance in the title match. Sunday's win avenged a loss to YSU in the championship of the first event of the season at Destination Orlando. The 12-1 weekend gives the Gamecocks a combined 25-1 record over the past two events and closes the fall with them having won 31 of their final 34 matches.
 
"We are so excited and proud of our girls and the incredible start to the season," head coach Shannon O'Keefe said. "Everyday they're together, we're learning more and more in preparation for the rest of the season."

Senior Isabel Allen was named Tournament MVP of the Hawk Classic after totaling 1,375 pins in the traditional portion of the weekend. The native of Tamworth, England, She was also instrumental in Friday's Baker play and joined the lineup of Kayla Smith, Maranda Pattison, Becca Hagerman and Crystal Elliott to bowl the first perfect score in school history in a Baker win over Duquesne.
 
With a lineup of Maranda Pattison, Anna Warkel, Allen, Rebecca Hagerman and Crystal Elliott,  Jax State took control early over LA Tech in Sunday's semifinal match. The Gamecocks won the first game by a score of 243-214 before the Bulldogs evened the match with a 267-200 win in the second game. 
 
The Gamecocks won the third game in convincing fashion, reclaiming the lead in the match with a 221-173 victory, and then edged LA Tech in a 228-225 fourth game. They then put the Bulldogs away and advanced to the title match with a 202-182 fifth set.
 
The title match avenged the Gamecocks' loss to the Penguins in the season opener, but the win didn't come easily. Jax State's lineup of Allen, Warkel, Pattison, Hagerman and Elliott dropped trailed early after a 227-210 loss in the first game and then trailed 2-1 after falling 237-218 in the third game.
 
They picked up a 215-190 win in the second game and then rallied to win three in a row to close the match and claim the title. Jax State made a statement in the fourth game, cruising to a 278-199 win and pulled within a win of the trophy with a 236-177 win in the fifth game. Game six ended with a 223-203 Gamecock win.
 
The Gamecocks, ranked seventh in the preseason Top 25 by the NTCA, will await the next poll before the spring season starts on Jan. 8 at Mount St. Mary's Stormin' Blue & White Vegas Classic.