GASTONIA, N.C. – The Lincoln Memorial University bowling programs are once again conference champions after capturing the inaugural Conference Carolinas/Great Midwest Men's and Women's Bowling Championships on Sunday, hosted by Liberty Lanes.
 
The Lady Railsplitters were able to defeat the No. 5 seed Kentucky Wesleyan in the mega-match format, 2-0, while the Railsplitters captured a hard-fought, 2-1, victory over No. 2 seed Emmanuel.
 
In the women's championship match, freshman Lorrie Decker bowled a near perfect game as the Freshman of the Year helped LMU to a 1,144-971 win in a traditional, five-player pinfall match to take a 109 lead in the mega-match.
 
In the baker total pinfall, the Railsplitters jumped out to a 47-pin advantage with a 209-162 win in game one, but Kentucky Wesleyan cut the deficit to 11 with a 186-150 win in game two. The lead shrunk to seven after a 167-163 score in favor of KWC in game three, but the momentum shifted in game four. LMU posted a 275 in the fourth game to the Panthers' 178 to take a 104-pin lead with one game to play. The top-seeded program from Harrogate, Tennessee sealed the win with a 196-178 tally in the final game for a 993-871 win to take home the inaugural championship.
 
After the match, the seven-player all-tournament team was announced and was led by Most Outstanding Player Lorrie Decker while Casssidy Anschutz and Jordyn Stewart were also named to the all-tournament team. The Blue and Gray trio were joined on the all-tournament team by Corrine Bean and Alyssa Zombrit of Kentucky Wesleyan, Arianna Campbell of Emmanuel and Alexa Tieto of Tusculum.
 
In the men's championship, Emmanuel took an early 1-0 lead in the mega-match after having three individuals post games of 225 or better, but the Railsplitters were able to even things up in the next event with a 217.5 pins average while the Lions only posted a 182.8 average in the baker event as LMU took the baker match with a total pinfall of 1,087-914.
 
In the baker match play, Emmanuel captured the first two games, 224-196 and 208-196, for the early lead, but the Railsplitters took the next two, 208-179 and 223-210, to even the score. The Lions made a late run in game five, but LMU won 175-162 and completed the comeback with a 209-185 win in game six to seal the championship victory. 
 
After the match, the seven-player all-tournament team was recognized led by Most Outstanding Player Ian Friesner of Lincoln Memorial. He was joined by a pair of teammates in Zachary Cook and Alex Linnenbrink. Emmanuel had two student-athletes honored in David Hooper, Jr. and Tristin Davis while Hunter Hawley represented Belmont Abbey and Seth Koloski represented Kentucky Wesleyan. 
 
As the top Conference Carolinas finisher in both events, Lincoln Memorial was also named the Conference Carolinas Men's and Women's Bowling Champions.