Richmond, Ky. – Men's bowling completed an impressive season debut Sunday afternoon, topping the leaderboard at the MSC Baker Bash. UPIKE's varsity unit finished first of 17 teams while JV1 and JV2 finished second and third, respectively.

The Bears' varsity squad totaled 8,299 pins through 40 baker games, trumping runner-up and defending MSC champion Tennessee Southern by 164 pins. Day one included 20 baker games, after which the Bears trailed the Firehawks by just nine pins. UPIKE averaged 204.2 pins per game on Saturday, before improving on Sunday with an average of 210.75.

Overall, the varsity squad bowled a 200 or more in 20 of 40 games, notching their highest single game total of 260 in the 28^th game.

The Bears fielded a pair of junior varsity teams as well, as JV1 finished runner-up with 7271 pins and JV2 finished third with 7075. Tennessee Southern claimed the overall JV title with 7807 pins. The JV1 squad got off to a slow start on Saturday, dropping 821 pins through the first five games before picking up 900 in games five through 10. The Bears finished with a total of 3636 after day one, averaging 181.8 pins per game. Day two saw the JV1 unit best their opening day total by 36 pins.

The JV2 team averaged 353.75 pins per game throughout the tournament, besting fourth place Midway by 327 pins.

The Bears return to action on Saturday, October 8^th as they travel to Beavercreek, Ohio for the Orange and Black Classic.