ST. LOUIS — Louisiana Tech opened the Columbia 300 Saints Invite with a 2-2 record at Bowlero Lakeside on Friday.
 
The 12th-ranked Bulldogs (49-32) finished the day with a 5,189 pin count to be in fourth place after the opening day.
 
Louisiana Tech opened the day on the bye and shot a 938 to open up in eighth. The Bulldogs had games of 190, 161, 210, 217, and 160.
 
Tech moved up three spots after shooting 1,162. However, No. 9 Maryville rolled the second-highest game of the day with a 1,210. The Bulldogs opened up with a 226 and improved from there. After taking a 47-pin lead after game one, Tech shot a 228, but the Saints rolled 278. Both teams had 235 in game three. The host would take the final two games, 240-234 and 278-239.
 
The Bulldogs continued to shoot in the plus and easily won match three against the University of Indianapolis 1,051-893. Tech took game one by 105 pins, 245-140. From there, Louisiana Tech continued to adjust with the transition, taking game two, 212-204, and game three, 221-194. The Greyhounds picked up a few pins in the fourth 184-167, but Tech closed it out with a 206-171 in game five.
 
With two matches remaining, the lanes were burnt, but that didn't stop LA Tech. The Bulldogs were in the plus again, taking down Oklahoma Christian 1,046-965. Tech fell behind 189-183 but responded with a 257 in game two to take a 59-pin league. The Bulldogs would increase their lead in the next two games, 189-171 and 223-203. The Eagles would take game five 210-194.
 
Louisiana Tech would fall to Newman 1,019-993 in the final match of the day. The Bulldogs opened with a seven-pin advantage after a 188-181 game one. The lead would change hands in game two and game three. The Jets would take game two 235-198 to take a 30-pin advantage, and Tech would take the lead back with a 218-158 game three. Newman would close the gap to 20 with an 189-179 game four. It would all come down to the final game, and a six-count, along with two opens, would cost the Bulldogs. Tech would still be in the plus but would fall 256-210.
 
UP NEXT
The traditional portion of the tournament will begin on Saturday, with Louisiana Tech taking on No. 13 McKendree. The Bulldogs will then take on Lewis, Central Missouri, No. 11 Sacred Heart, and Valparaiso.
 
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