NEW CASTLE, Del. – The Kutztown University bowling team earned four wins in baker competition on the first day of the Wildcat DII Invitational, hosted by Wilmington (Del.) University at the Bowlero Lanes in New Castle, Del., on Friday.

The Golden Bears (44-33 overall) opened the tournament with a win over D'Youville (880-752) before conceding a 34-pin battle to Saint Vincent, 1020-986 in the second game of the day. They didn't let adversity deter them, as they recorded three victories over St. Thomas Aquinas (1011-544), No. 23 Felician (1033-920) and Caldwell (991-976) to put themselves among the top of the tournament and hold momentum heading into the second day.

They end the day as one of just two teams with one loss, while their 4,901 pinfall and 196 pinfall average per game ranks second to Saint Vincent College.

Kutztown began the day with a lineup of Megan Hanaway (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Township), Sydney Snyder (Morrisville, Pa./Conwell-Egan Catholic), Kamryn Brenneman (York, Pa./Central York), Madison Brenneman (York, Pa./Central York) and Chloe Sromovski (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) for the first two matches. The Brenneman sisters were swapped for the latter three matches, and junior Shelby Wunch (Easton, Md./Easton) was inserted to face Felician and Caldwell in the final two contests of the afternoon

Traditional play will feature Molloy, Emmanuel (Ga.), Newman, Wilmington (Del.) and Alvernia on Saturday.

The second day of the  Wildcat Invitational begins bright and early Saturday morning, where the Golden Bears will bowl in traditional play to determine the layout of Sunday's best-of-seven bracket rounds.