NASHVILLE, TENN. -- The LIU Brooklyn bowling team went 1-4 on the first day of the 2019 Music City Invitational, hosted in Nashville. The Blackbirds fell to four ranked teams in total baker pinfall bowling, before winning their final game of the day. Going into Saturday's traditional format, the Blackbirds stand 14th out of 29 teams with a 191.5 scoring average at the Smyrna Bowling Center.
First up for LIU was a 967-1028 loss to No. 23 Louisiana Tech (191-235, 195-206, 219-186, 179-191, 183-210). In the second match on Friday, No. 21 Maryville topped LIU 985-940 (192-230, 183-164, 201-180, 188-213, 176-198). In the middle match, the Blackbirds faced their hosts, No. 2 Vanderbilt, falling, 908-1006 (191-189, 153-230, 194-214, 194-195, 176-178). That was followed by a 971-1105 defeat by North Carolina A&T, (180-218, 202-216, 180-225, 210-219, 199-227). In the final match, against Lincoln (Mo.), the Blackbirds prevailed, 1003-718, by scores of 188-142, 192-145, 174-108, 264-160 and 185-163.
The Blackbirds schedule for Saturday traditional matches are (in order): UAB, Elmhurst, No. 12 Tulane, No. 4 Arkansas State and Drury, before Sunday's baker best-of-seven bracketed playoff.