JONESBORO, Ark. — Starting the day in the middle of the pack, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) bowling squad had the opportunity to advance up to fifth place in bracket play at the Arkansas State University’s Mid-Winter Invite. Unfortunately the team was only able to muster one victory in bracket play, ending the tournament in ninth place.

The Hawks fell to Stephen F. Austin and Central Missouri before defeating Louisiana Tech in the weekend finale. Overall the team went 5-8 and registered a total pinfall of 12,324.

In the first bracket matchup of the day UMES squared off against the Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin. The Marylanders would win the first game, but the Texan team roared back, winning the next four, including a trio of 200 plus game to defeat the Hawks.

UMES would then battle Central Missouri in what would be the most exciting match of the day. The Jennies took the first two games but the Hawks made a strong comeback. With scores of 214, 234 and 192 the Hawks captured a three to two lead entering the sixth game. After Central Missouri forced a seventh game with a 209, the two teams then tied in the deciding match, forcing a tiebreaker.

The five frame finale featured three strikes for each team, including a turkey for the Hawks. However, a pair of splits helped doom UMES, and the Jennies managed to fill all five frames to claim a 109-82 tiebreaker win.

A four game sweep of the Techsters from Louisiana Tech helped cure some of the frustration, but a ninth place finish left a feeling of disappointment among the Hawks.

McKendree University in Illinois won the tournament by defeating Vanderbilt once and Sam Houston State twice at the top of the bracket. UMES was the only MEAC school represented at the tournament.

The Hawks will look to work their way to the top of the standings in two weeks when they head to Arlington, Tex. for the Prairie View A&M Invitational.