CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – The Lincoln Memorial University women's bowling team kicked off the first day of action at the Columbia 300 Saints Invite inside the Bowlero Lanes in Chesterfield, Missouri, with a top-10 finish in Baker match play.
 
The Lady Railsplitters (35-35) finished the opening day of the three-day tournament hosted by Maryville University in ninth place with a total pin count of 4,643 following five Baker matches. Ranked 20th in the nation, LMU defeated third-ranked Nebraska (965-853), Drury University (970-882), Lewis (1,003-849) and Spalding University (860-617). The only loss of the day came in the Lady Railsplitters' first match of the day when Kentucky Wesleyan rallied for a 950-845 win.
 
Top-ranked McKendree University sits atop the 19-team field with a total pin count of 5,135 and an opening day game average of 205.4. Fourth-ranked Arkansas State, No. 12 Central Missouri, 18th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and No. 2 Sam Houston State University round out the top five in the standings. Louisiana Tech, who is ranked 11th nationally, and No. 15 Maryville University are in the sixth and seventh slots, followed by third-ranked Nebraska, No. 20 LMU and fellow East Coast Conference member Tusculum 10th, 12 pins behind LMU.
 
On the day, LMU rolled six 200-plus pin games, registering a high of 233 during its victory over Lewis. The Lady Railsplitters' Baker game average Friday was 185.7.
 
Saturday morning action will begin at 9:30 a.m. with traditional match play. LMU is scheduled to face off against Upper Iowa University, host and 15th-ranked Maryville University, No. 1 McKendree and 12th-ranked Central Missouri Saturday. The scheduled fifth match will be a bye for the Lady Railsplitters since Lincoln University (Mo.) did not attend due to weather-related travel issues.
 
How to Follow
Stay tuned to LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms - @LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram, for complete coverage of Lady Railsplitter bowling throughout the 2019-20 season.