by Benny Benton
CLEMSON, S.C. – The Barton College men's tennis team cruised to an 8-1 Conference Carolinas victory over Southern Wesleyan University on Saturday at Nettles Park.
The Bulldogs improved to 3-1 in league play and 7-4 overall with the victory. The Warriors fell to 0-12 overall and 0-6 in the conference.
The only point for Southern Wesleyan came when Barton's No. 3 singles player, Max Leppert, retired after splitting the first two sets against Jacob Chesney.
Barton's McKennon Griffin, getting his first dual match start of the year, rallied to victory at No. 6 singles by edging Matthew Plummer in a super-tiebreaker third set, 12-10. He forced the super-tiebreaker after downing Plummer in a second-set tiebreaker (7-2) to win that frame, 7-6.
Jake McCartney, Rafael Ruiz Velasco, Nick Genest and Yaxi Pintado all won in straight sets, with Pintado posting a 6-0, 6-0 shutout of his opponent to earn his sixth straight victory in the No. 5 slot.
McCartney and Ruiz Velasco won No. 1 doubles, 8-3, Leppert and Genest took No. 2 doubles, 8-5, and Pintado and Daniel Radu claimed No. 3 doubles, 8-3.
Barton will continue its road trip on Saturday with a visit to Tigerville, S.C., to face North Greenville University.
BARTON 8, SOUTHERN WESLEYAN 1
Singles
1. Jake McCartney (BARTON) def. Camilo Sandoval (SWU) 6-4, 6-3
2. Rafael Ruiz Velasco (BARTON) def. Keegan Barkley (SWU) 6-0, 6-4
3. Jacob Chesney (SWU) def. Max Leppert (BARTON) 0-6, 6-5, retired
4. Nick Genest (BARTON) def. Loic Delaby (SWU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Yaxi Pintado (BARTON) def. Alex Ballenger (SWU) 6-0, 6-0
6. McKennon Griffin (BARTON) def. Matthew Plummer (SWU) 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 1-0 (12-10)
Doubles
1. Jake McCartney/Rafael Ruiz Velasco (BARTON) def. Keegan Barkley/Loic Delaby (SWU) 8-3
2. Max Leppert/Nick Genest (BARTON) def. Camilo Sandoval/Matthew Plummer (SWU) 8-5
3. Yaxi Pintado/Daniel Radu (BARTON) def. Jacob Chesney/Alex Ballenger (SWU) 8-3
Records
Barton 7-4, 3-1
Southern Wesleyan 0-12, 0-6
