ARLINGTON, TEXAS – North Carolina A&T returned to bowling competition on Friday at the 2023 Prairie View A&M Invitational at the International Research and Training Center (ITRC).
The Aggies, the second-ranked team in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA), went 1-4 during Day 1 as each team played five Baker matches. A&T totaled 4,695 pins for a five-game average of 187.8 to place ninth. Third-ranked Vanderbilt led the way with 5,214 pins, followed by fourth-ranked Nebraska (5,152), fifth-ranked Stephen F. Austin (5,098), top-ranked McKendree (5,096) and sixth-ranked Arkansas State (4,974) in the top-5.
All five Aggie opponents on Friday are nationally ranked in the NTCA top-10. A&T started the day on a high note when they defeated ninth-ranked Lousiana Tech 985-904. The victorious lineup included junior Melanie Katen, Cristina Acosta, Katie Robb, Chloe Newberry and Lauren Tomaszewski. Laura Garcia also bowled in the match.
Unfortunately, the Aggies followed with four straight losses. First, Nebraska defeated the Aggies 1,007-911 in A&T's second match on Friday. The Aggies then had a 982-935 loss to eighth-ranked Sam Houston State.
The final two matches came against the seventh-ranked Youngstown State Penguins and the Arkansas State Red Wolves. The Penguins came away with a 1,095-955 win, and the Red Wolves won 945-909.
The Aggies are 45-16 on the season, but they have been 5-10 since the start of 2023. A&T looks to return to championship form on Saturday when they compete in five traditional matches.
