MU's Men's Bowling Wins Inaugural Crossroads League Tournament

Crossroads League Championships Central

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Marian men's bowling team began their postseason quest with a thrilling come from behind victory Saturday in the Crossroads League Bowling Championship, as the Knights forced the winner-take-all match from the losers bracket to take the championship over Spring Arbor. Marian is the first ever Crossroads League Champion in the inaugural event.

The Knights received a bye into the second round as the Crossroads League Regular Season Champion, and were tested in their first match as Bethel forced Marian to tiebreaker in their first match. Bethel won the first three games against the Knights, with Marian having to rally winning four straight games to take a 4-3 win. After the first comeback win of the day, Marian defeated Spring Arbor 4-0 in the winner's bracket championship outing.

Spring Arbor rallied back through the losers bracket, and rematched with Marian in the first championship round, defeating the Knights 4-3. The Cougars won the first two games with Marian winning the next to tie the match, but Spring Arbor won the fifth game. Marian forced a game-seven with a 242-188 win in the sixth game, but the roles were reversed as Spring Arbor forced the if-necessary match with a 265-188 clinching win.

In the winner-take-all game, Marian answered strong bowling a 200 or better in the first three games as they won with ease 4-0. In total Marian posted a 3-1 record on the day, defeating Spring Arbor twice including the final match.

The day put a bow on the Crossroads League season, as Marian will now look to compete in the USBC Sectionals next week as their final tune-up before the NAIA National Championships.

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