FLORENCE, S.C. – The Barton men's tennis team (1-5) suffered a 6-1 setback to Francis Marion (4-1) Saturday afternoon at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Center.
Despite the loss, the Bulldogs did pick up a victory at No. 2 singles. Barton junior Rory Gaydon (Darlington, ENGLAND) defeated Francis Marion's Matt Astell (Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA) by scores of 7-5 and 7-5. Gaydon has won two straight singles matches as well.
Gaydon was also part of one of the closest doubles matches on the day. Gaydon – along with freshman James Kelly (Mazabuka, ZAMBIA) – fell in a nail-bitter to the Patriots' Matheo Espinoza (Guayaquil, ECUADOR) and Mauricio Guerrero (Mexico City, MEXICO), 7-6 (8-6), at second doubles.
The Barton men's tennis team makes a quick turnaround and will host Bluefield State beginning at 11:00 a.m., while Francis Marion remains at home to take on Peach Belt Conference-foe USC Aiken Tuesday beginning at 2:00 p.m.
