Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
The Louisiana Tech bowling team fell 2-1 to No. 20 Tulane in the opening round of the Conference USA Championship at Colonial Lanes on Wednesday.
The 11th-ranked Bulldogs (83-44) struggled to pick up spares, missing 20 makeable marks throughout the match that would ultimately cost Tech the win.
The traditional game started with five opens through the first two frames, putting the ‘Dogs in a big hole. Louisiana Tech battled back, but it would be too late. Kylee Trexler led the way with a 247, followed by Jenna Stretch at 202 and Paulina with a 200.
It looked like the Green Wave would take the match in a sweep after the Bulldogs opened three times in the first five frames to fall behind by 48 pins. LA Tech started to make a comeback and shrunk the deficit by nine after the second game.
The third game put the set into Tech’s favor, with the Bulldogs rolling a 235 for a 28-pin advantage. The strikes kept coming to a tune of 240 in the fourth, which ballooned the lead to 64. Opens became a problem again during the final games, but LA Tech was able to strike out in the 10th to secure the win and force a best-of-seven Baker set.
The Bulldogs fell behind 3-0 in the best-of-seven but didn’t give up. After pulling within one, LA Tech was poised to tie it up midway through game six. However, a couple of opens late allowed Tulane to take the game and the set.
Louisiana Tech will take on the loser of No. 3 Vanderbilt and No. 9 Stephen F. Austin at 2 p.m. on Thursday in a win or go home match.
