LAS VEGAS – In its first action on the 2024 calendar, the top-ranked Jacksonville State Bowling Team leads the Stormin' Blue & White Classic after posting a 3-2 record on Monday.
The Gamecocks (36-8) claimed wins over Jackson State and No. 18 Newman to start the day and then bounced back after losses to No. 19 Valparaiso and No. 7 Nebraska to end the day with a win over 12
th-ranked Tulane. Despite the two losses, Jax State leads the 19-team field in total pinfall with 4,997, an average score of 199.9 through the five Baker matches on the tournament's first day.
The day started with a convincing win over Jackson State, one that saw the Gamecocks claim over 200 more pins than the Tigers. The lineup of
Kayla Smith,
Rebecca Hagerman,
Maranda Pattison,
Isabel Allen and
Crystal Elliott bowled four games over 200 en route to a 1,078-870 win to get 2024 underway.
The same five slipped past Newman in the second match of the day, claiming a 935-918 win to start the event with a 2-0 record. The Gamecocks trailed the entire match until the final game, when they posted a 224-177 win to roar from behind and stay in the win column.
Valpo used a hot start in the first two games and then held off a late Jax State charge for a 947-932 win in the third match, followed by a Nebraska comeback that was bolstered by big wins in games three and five to equal a 1,025-987 final.
The Gamecocks got back in the win column to close the day against Tulane, posting a 1,065-951 final score.
Anna Warkel made her first start of the day in the leadoff spot for Jax State and teamed with Allen, Hagerman, Elliot and Pattison to claim the win by over 100 pins. Jax State's best game of the day – a 256 in the third game – led a match that featured four Gamecock scores over 200.
The Gamecocks will continue play in the three-day tournament on Tuesday with five traditional matches against No. 14 Maryland Eastern Shore, No. 2 Vanderbilt, No. 4 Louisiana Tech, Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M. Bracket Play will conclude the tournament on Wednesday.
