by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – The Barton College men's tennis team moved into a tie for second place in Conference Carolinas on Friday after recording its fourth straight league win, an 8-1 victory over visiting Erskine College.
The Bulldogs improved to 6-1 in league play and 10-4 overall. The loss dropped the Flying Fleet to 3-11 overall and 2-6 in the conference.
Barton swept all six singles matches in straight sets – three of them without losing a game – to put away its fifth straight victory overall.
Max Leppert, Daniel Radu and Yaxi Pintado all posted shutouts in singles play at the No. 3, 5 and 6 slots, respectively. Jake McCartney posted a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 1 singles, Rafael Ruiz Velasco claimed a 7-5, 6-0 win at the No. 2 spot, and Nick Genest edged his opponent in the No. 4 slot, 7-5, 7-5.
Erskine earned its only win at the top of the doubles lineup, with Wilson Matthewes and Jason Harris slipping past McCartney and Ruiz Velasco, 8-6. Leppert and Genest downed their opponents, 8-3, in the No. 2 spot, while Radu and Pintado cruised to an 8-1 win as the No. 3 team for the Bulldogs.
Pintado has now won nine in a row in singles and is 11-2 on the year. He is also 8-1 in his last nine doubles starts. His doubles partner on Friday, Radu, has won five straight in both doubles and singles. McCartney improved to 9-1 in his last 10 singles matches, and Ruiz Velasco is 7-2 at No. 2 singles over his last nine starts.
The Bulldogs will host another league match on Saturday as they welcome Emmanuel College to the Barton Tennis Complex for a scheduled noon start.
BARTON 8, ERSKINE 1
Singles
1. Jake McCartney (BARTON) def. Wilson Mathewes (ERSKINE) 7-5, 6-4
2. Rafael Ruiz Velasco (BARTON) def. Jason Harris (ERSKINE) 7-5, 6-0
3. Max Leppert (BARTON) def. Alan Pearce (ERSKINE) 6-0, 6-0
4. Nick Genest (BARTON) def. Andre Andre (ERSKINE) 7-5, 7-5
5. Daniel Radu (BARTON) def. Eddie Gullino (ERSKINE) 6-0, 6-0
6. Yaxi Pintado (BARTON) def. Benny Uy (ERSKINE) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
1. Wilson Mathewes/Jason Harris (ERSKINE) def. Jake McCartney/Rafael Ruiz Velasco (BARTON) 8-6
2. Max Leppert/Nick Genest (BARTON) def. Alan Pearce/Andre Andre (ERSKINE) 8-3
3. Daniel Radu/Yaxi Pintado (BARTON) def. Eddie Gullino/Benny Uy (ERSKINE) 8-1
Records
Barton 10-4, 6-1
Erskine 3-11, 2-6
