Buffaloes Men's Bowling Surges to Fourth Place Nationals Finish, Women Drop First Match on Day Two

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. — The Milligan University men's and women's bowling teams continued their quests for an NAIA National Championship on Friday in Sterling Heights, Mich., as the all-day affair ended on two ends of the spectrum for the Buffaloes. The men's team battled all the way to round six of the tournament, ultimately placing fourth overall, which is the highest finish in program history. The women lost 4-1 in their first loser's bracket match, eliminating them from tournament play.

To begin the day, Milligan's men posted a definitive 4-1 win over the No. 4-seeded Fighting Saints of Saint Francis (Ill.), clinching them a spot in a round four tilt with top-seeded SCAD Savannah at 1 p.m.

The women played the No. 3-seeded Saint Xavier Cougars in the first loser's bracket match of the event for Milligan at 10 a.m., and unfortunately, the Buffs were dispatched. A 4-1 score in a best-of-seven matchup sent the Lady Buffs home without a win in the national tourney.

Next up was a thrilling match for the men against the Bees of SCAD Savannah, that the Buffaloes held a 3-2 lead in after five games. The final two went the way of the top seed, though, as Milligan lost by just two pins in the sixth game and was beaten by 68 in game seven.

That loss kicked Milligan down to the loser's bracket for round five, as they matched up with Pikeville in the ensuing battle. After dropping their first two contests against the Bears, the Buffs rattled off four straight wins to clinch a spot in round six against Concordia at 5 p.m.

Another classic seven-game contest would unfurl, as Milligan's early 1-0 lead turned into a 3-1 deficit in short order. Then, the Buffs won the two following games to tie the score a 3-3. Unfortunately, a 214-185 loss in the seventh game would end the Buffaloes' pursuit of a NAIA National Championship, as they finished in fourth out of the 12-team field.

For the MU women, it is the conclusion of their season, as they placed in the 9th-12th place range at the NAIA National Championships, having made their third straight nationals appearance.

"It's always a bittersweet moment to end the season on a loss," said women's head coach Brian Rickert, "but as a team we look to all the accomplishments we had this year. We set program records, had our highest finish in the polls and moved the program forward to another level. Our seniors, while only spending a few short years with us, have engrained themselves into the fiber of what Milligan Women's Bowling stands for: love for each other. I am so proud of each of them and will miss them greatly. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that our returning squad along with our incoming freshmen will continue moving us towards our goal of being a national champion!"

The Milligan men will now have a short hiatus before traveling to the USBC ITC National Championships in Las Vegas, Nev. on Apr. 17-20, as they look to bring home a USBC ITC national title.