TOWSON, Md. – The Norfolk State bowling team rode its strong play in Baker action to finish fourth at the James Brown Invitational hosted by Morgan State over the weekend at the AMF Towson Lanes.
 
The No. 21 Spartans posted a 3-1 record in Baker action on Friday and also went 2-1 on Sunday in the bracket round for its final standing. The Spartans dropped four of their five matches on Saturday in traditional play, eventually ending the tournament with a 6-6 overall record.
 
Junior Alexa Rodriguez played a big role on Saturday, tallying a 208.2 average in all five games to pace the Spartans. Senior Briana Gardner averaged 195.0 as well.
 
Friday began with wins over Felician (955-940) and Mount Aloysius (950-885) followed by a setback against Monmouth, 933-851. The Spartans closed out their official day with a victory over Youngstown State, 953-826, before bowling a fifth Baker game during their bye.
 
NSU had games of 223, 222 and 228 against Chestnut Hill College on Sunday in the first round of bracket play, winning the best-of-7 Baker series, 4.5-1.5 after the teams tied in the third game. The Spartans then fell by two pins in the first game against Caldwell in the next round but won the next four gmaes for a 4-1 win.
 
In the third and final game, Norfolk State rallied from a 3-0 hole to force a game 7, but Morgan State came out on top in the end in a 4-3 victory over the Spartans. The host Bears took third in the tournament as a result of the win.
 
In between the two Baker days, the Spartans struggled to get going in traditional play on Saturday. No. 23 Fayetteville State won the first match, 954-838, before NSU rebounded to top Coppin State, 914-744, behind games of 225 from Rodriguez and 222 from Gardner. Rodriguez tied her season high with that score.
 
The Spartans fell just short of topping Caldwell, 947-942, in the third game of the day. Chestnut Hill (918-832) and No. 10 Fairleigh Dickinson (1,018-889) defeated NSU in the last two games of the day.
 
Sophomore Aubrey Conrad averaged 174.0 in all five games on Saturday, while freshman McKayla Lang also competed in all five. Senior Meagan Marciano and sophomore Heizel Quinones split the fifth and final spot in the lineup.
 
Fairleigh Dickinson captured the tournament title, with Monmouth and Morgan State finishing second and third, respectively, ahead of NSU.
 
The Spartans close out the regular season MEAC schedule with the third Southern Divisional of the season this Saturday and Sunday down in Greensboro, North Carolina.