Jaguars win in seven games + overtime Southern’s Caldwell named Most Outstanding Bowler
BESSEMER – After more than 5 ½ hours of competition, the Southern Jaguars have defended their title and won the 2009 SWAC Bowling
Championship over Alabama A&M, four games to three.
After losing the first match on Sunday 4-2, the Jaguars and Bulldogs
battled through a dramatic seven-game series that went to overtime.
Southern won the first two games (179-167, 194-179) before Alabama
A&M won the next two games (176-154, 163-156) to tie the match at 2-2.
After Southern won game five (184-158), Alabama A&M won game six (188-171) to force the decisive game seven.
Trailing by 20 pins in the final frame, Southern’s Vanessa Caldwell, the
tournament’s Most Outstanding Bowler, spared and then threw a clutch
strike on her final ball to force overtime at 179-179.
Playing the modified Baker format (frames 6-10), Caldwell brought the
title home for Southern as she did in 2008. Her strike in the final frame
tied the overtime period, and her spare on the final ball sealed this
year’s championship.
Early on Sunday, Alabama A&M downed Southern four games to two to force the decisive match.
The Bulldogs rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win the final three games to
hand the Jaguars their first loss in this year’s tournament.
Southern won Game 1 (185-166) before Alabama A&M rebounded to take Game 2 (173-164). The Jaguars won Game 3 (182-175) before the Bulldogs won Games 4-6 (183-171, 183-164, 174-154).
Southern’s Vanessa Caldwell was named the Most Outstanding Bowler of the All-Tournament Team for the second consecutive year. During team
competition, she averaged 205.40, highlighted by a high game score of 255.
