Updated Bracket

CHESAPEAKE, Va., March 22, 2019—The 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Bowling Championship got underway on Friday at the AMF Chesapeake Lanes, with the top two seeds Maryland Eastern Shore and North Carolina A&T State advancing in the winner’s bracket.
 
The top-seeded Hawks battled into Saturday’s semifinal by sweeping Delaware State 2-0 in the Mega Match format. Maryland Eastern Shore opened with a 978-824 win in the traditional team game, with Alexandra Hernandez bowling a 217 and Brigitte Jacobs, a First Team All-MEAC selection, rolling a 214.
 
The Hawks then won the first three games in the Baker pinfall format, but Delaware State went on a tear – including five straight strikes – to take the fourth game 237-181.
 
But Maryland Eastern Shore caught fire in the fifth game, winning 217-195 to clinch the match with a total pinfall of 992-950.
 
At the same time, North Carolina A&T State – defending tournament champion and the No. 2 seed – took on Monmouth. The traditional team game was tightly contested and back-and-forth, and the Aggies held on for a 1,008-1,003 win.
 
Monmouth had a chance in the late frames, but North Carolina A&T State held on and rode that momentum to the Baker pinfall format. The Aggies outbowled the Hawks in four of the five games and won the pinfall 979-863.
 
Maryland Eastern Shore and North Carolina A&T State will meet on Saturday at 2 p.m. to determine one of the spots in Sunday’s championship match.
 
In the morning session, No. 3 seed Delaware State made quick work of No. 6 seed Howard, defeating the Bison 2-0 in the Mega Match format. The Hornets opened the competition with a 935-768 win in the traditional team game, and First Team All-MEAC selection Alexis Neuer led the way, bowling a high of 221.
 
Delaware State then took the Baker total pinfall match 956-898.
 
Associate members UAB and Monmouth, the No. 4 and 5 seeds, locked horns in the opening round in a match that went the full three formats. After Monmouth took the traditional team game 918-880 – with Skylar Smith recording a 225 – UAB bounced back to win the Baker total pinfall game 948-912.
 
That set up the Baker best-of-seven game, which was tied at 3-3 before Monmouth recorded two strikes at the end of the seventh to take the match 2-1.
 
Howard will open Saturday’s action at 9 a.m. against Monmouth in the elimination bracket, while UAB will take on Delaware State. The winners of those two matches will meet at 2 p.m. in another elimination match.
 
For more information on the 2019 MEAC Bowling Championship, visit Championship Central at MEACSports.com.