by Cory Guinn
FLORENCE, S.C. – Facing a nationally ranked opponent for the second straight match, the Barton men's tennis team fell 7-2 to No. 27 Francis Marion University on Thursday afternoon on Kassab Courts.
The Bulldogs trailed 2-1 after doubles play where sophomore Jesus Gil and freshman Julian Bosch secured an 8-4 win at No. 1. The freshman duo of Ermanno Galimberti and Rory Gaydon narrowly lost 8-6 in the No. 3 doubles matchup
In singles play, Barton fought tough but fell just short of defeating the Patriots. FMU picked up a hard-fought 6-4, 6-4 win over BC's No. 3 Yaxi Pintado and another close match over No. 5 Galimberti 7-6 (7-5), 6-3. Gil was the only Bulldogs to win a singles match, claiming a 6-4, 3-6, 12-10 win in the No. 6 singles slot.
Barton will have a few days to prepare for its 2017 home opener against Chowan University on Feb. 14 at 3 p.m.
No. 27 Francis Marion 7, Barton 2
Singles:
1. #18 Richard Ashforth (FMU) def. Julian Bosch (BARTON) 6-1, 7-5
2. Tarass Thevenaz (FMU) def. Jake McCartney (BARTON) 6-4, 6-1
3. Raul Madrid (FMU) def. Yaxi Pintado (BARTON) 6-4, 6-4
4. J. Roettlingsberger (FMU) def. Rory Gaydon (BARTON) 6-1, 6-3
5. Henri Broeseler (FMU) def. Ermanno Galimberti (BARTON) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
6. Jesus Gil (BARTON) def. Mauricio Guerrero (FMU) 6-4, 3-6, 12-10
Doubles:
1. Julian Bosch/Jesus Gil (BARTON) def. Richard Ashforth/Mauricio Guerrero (FMU) 8-4
2. J. Roettlingsberger/Raul Madrid (FMU) def. Jake McCartney/Yaxi Pintado (BARTON) 8-3
3. Tarass Thevenaz/Matheo Espinoza (FMU) def. Rory Gaydon/Ermanno Galimberti (BARTON) 8-6
Records:
Barton College 0-3
No. 27 Francis Marion University 2-0 (ranked No. 6 in the Southeast region)
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,2,4,3,5,6)
