HERRIN - The Herrin High School girls bowling team kept their unbeaten season intact by defeating Carbondale, 2,780-1,738, while the boys kept up with the girls by also beating Carbondale, 2,906-2,350, in a dual match held at Herrin Bowl.

"This was a good win for us despite it being our first match in a week," Herrin coach Mark May said. "The girls are back to shooting like we need to in the mid 900's in the first two games with all the girls coming through for us. I had four boys who shot pretty good today and we just need a consistent fifth. Tuesday we have Salem coming to town and that will be a good test for this team."

The girls, coming off a 14th place showing at state last year, improved to 8-0 with the win while Carbondale fell to 2-4. The boys - who also finished placed 14th at state last year - upped their record to 6-2 as Carbondale dropped to 3-4.

Sophomore Emily Lind had her best outing of the season by shooting a match-high 615 pins. The sophomore bested her season average of 178 by 27 pins after winning two of the three games with scores of 204, 207 and 204.

"This was the most consistent I've been all year and shot my highest score in a dual match this year," Lind said. "On practice Friday, I wasn't doing so well, so I was kind of nervous today. At the beginning, I was having a little trouble, but our coach helped me out and it seemed to work."

Kristy Gualdoni bowled the top score of the girls meet in the second game with a 214. The sophomore finished third on the Tigers with a combined score of 562 that included a 186 in game one and a 162 in game three.

Junior Seanna Benjamin finished second for Herrin with a score of 575 (203-182-190) and was followed by her twin sister, Sonya Benjamin, with a 532 (191-169-172) and senior Kayelee Chaney with a 496 (169-158-169).

The Terriers were led by freshman Danielle Ross with a score of 404 (140-133-131) and sophomore Megan Crowell with a 401 (140-142-119).

"This is the first year Carbondale has had a bowling team and Danielle is one of the few bowlers we have that has junior league experience," Carbondale coach Marty Robinson said. "Her dad and brother are bowlers and while she has a lot of development ahead of her, she has a pretty average (141) for a freshman."

Rounding out the Carbondale scorers were sophomore Akesta Glispie with a 359 (115-136-108), sophomore Lindsey Howell with a 313 (109-85-119) and the combined score of 261 by sophomores Myriah Hughlett (86-83) and Latifah Ellis (92).

The Herrin boys team was led by James Cundiff with the top combined score of the meet at 652. The senior started his meet with a disappointing 193 in the game one to rank fourth on his team, but finished strong with a match-high 258 in game two and 201 in game three.

"In game two, I was just up there throwing the ball like I always do, but the difference was I wasn't thinking about it so much," Cundiff said. "My 652 was one of my best series this season, but there is still a lot I can do to up that score even more."

Rounding out the Tigers' scorers were Cundiff's twin brother, Matthew, with a 628 (232-217-179), besting his season average by 23 pins, sophomore Scott Julian with a 611 (215-223-173), senior Jacob Ogden with a 569 (200-185-184) and the combined score of 447 by seniors Jimmy Snider (131-168) and Bobby Wade (147).

Carbondale was led junior Cody Moon, who finished with a 575 (200-182-191). He was followed by senior Brad Gray with a 466 (162-183-121), senior Graham Baker with a 458 (143-159-156), junior Kyle Brandt with a 457 (147-156-154) and the combined score of 394 from junior Greg Lorentz (142-137) and senior RaShaun Jones (115).

"Cody is our top bowler after bowling in many leagues before," Robinson said. "I've bowled with both his grandpa and dad and they are pretty bowlers and they have taught him well."