COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Columbia College bowling team played host to the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) Bowling Tournament at AMF Town and Country Lanes this weekend, placing third in a field of eight teams. The Cougars entered the event as the four-seed, defeating No. 2 seed William Penn University (Iowa), No. 5 seed Peru State College (Neb.), and No. 7 seed Grandview University (Iowa) on their way to the semifinals.
For each match the mega match format was used which is best to two points. Point one is a five-person team game for total pins, while point two is four Baker games for total pins. If the decision is split, point three is the best of five Baker games.
First Round
Defeated No.5 seed Peru State, 2-0
Second Round
Fell to No.1 seed Mount Mercy, 2-0
Third Round
Defeated No.7 seed Grandview, 2-1
- Lost the team game by 21 pins but forced a third point by winning the Baker games. In the best of five series, each team won their games on the right lane, including the fifth game where Columbia won 170-168 to advance as the Cougars took the 3-2 decision.
Quarterfinals
Defeated No. 2 seed William Penn, 2-1
- Lost the team game and trailed by 27 entering the last Baker game, but ultimately won the final game by 34 pins to force a best of five. In the point three decision, the Cougars swept the Statesmen, 3-0.
Semifinals
Fell to No. 3 seed Missouri Baptist, 2-0
- Trailed by 80 pins entering the 10th frame of the team game, losing by just seven pins. The Baker games went back and forth before the Spartans pulled away in the last game to win the point and advance to the Finals.
Columbia will return to action at USBS Sectionals in Smyrna, Tenn. March 13-15.
