by Cory Guinn
DUE WEST, S.C. – The Barton College men's tennis team defeated Erskine College 6-3 on Friday afternoon in the team's first Conference Carolinas match of the season.
BC is now 3-4 overall and 1-0 in league play as the Flying Fleet fell to 2-6 with a 1-3 mark in league play.
Barton was ahead 2-1 over Erskine after doubles play ended, earning points in the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles positions. Senior Rafael Ruiz Velasco teamed with freshman Jesus Gil to win 8-7 following a 7-5 tiebreaker at No. 2, while seniors Nick Genest and Daniel Radu earned an 8-5 victory in the No. 3 slot, the duo's second win in a row.
Radu gave Barton its third point of the match with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Erskine's Mateo Laredo at No. 6 singles as a 6-1, 6-1 win from Ruiz Velasco at No. 2 singles put BC just one point away from victory.
Senior Jake McCartney used a 6-1, 7-5 decision over Erskine's Ritwik Bhriguvanshi at No. 1 singles to seal the match win for the Bulldogs.
Junior Yaxi Pintado gave Barton its final point with a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles, while the Flying Fleet earned points at the No. 3 and No. 4 singles positions. Senior Nick Genest did not go down quietly however, winning the first set at the No. 3 slot 6-4 before falling 6-3 in the second set. Erskine's Andres Argenal earned the point with a 10-5 win in a third-set super tiebreaker with the match already decided.
Barton travels to Franklin Springs, Ga. tomorrow for an 11 a.m. match against Emmanuel College.
BARTON 6, ERSKINE 3
Singles:
1. Jake McCartney (BARTON) def. Ritwik Bhriguvanshi (ERMT2016) 6-1, 7-5
2. Rafael Ruiz Velasco (BARTON) def. Fabrico Lanza (ERMT2016) 6-1, 6-1
3. Andres Argenal (ERMT2016) def. Nick Genest (BARTON) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-5)
4. Alan Pearce (ERMT2016) def. Jesus Gil (BARTON) 6-2, 6-2
5. Yaxi Pintado (BARTON) def. Andre Andre (ERMT2016) 7-5, 6-2
6. Daniel Radu (BARTON) def. Mateo Laredo (ERMT2016) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles:
1. Rafael Ruiz Velasco/Jesus Gil (BARTON) def. Alan Pearce/Fabrico Lanza (ERMT2016) 8-7 (7-5)
2. Ritwik Bhriguvanshi/Andre Andre (ERMT2016) def. Jake McCartney/Yaxi Pintado (BARTON) 8-4
3. Nick Genest/Daniel Radu (BARTON) def. Andres Argenal/Mateo Laredo (ERMT2016) 8-5
Records:
Barton 3-4, 1-0 CC
Erskine 2-6, 1-3 CC
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1) Singles (6,2,1,4,5,3)
