Blue Raiders mount comeback for win over Ball State

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee overcame losing the doubles point to win four singles matches and defeat Ball State 4-3 on Friday afternoon at the Buck Bouldin Tennis Center.

The two teams battled it out in doubles but Ball State pulled out close matches for the point and a 1-0 lead in the match. The Cardinals' Derek Carpenter and Zane Smith defeated Elliot Barnwell and Matthew Langley at No. 2 doubles 9-7. Then Ball State sealed the point with Austin Sansone and Shaun Bussert's 9-7 win over Dimitri Pippos and Kyle Wishing at No. 3 doubles.

Shaun Waters and Ben Davis closed out doubles play with an 8-5 win over Dalton Albertin and Cliff Morrison at No. 1.

"We had the opportunity to win the doubles point losing two match 9-7. I thought we rebounded very well in the singles matches," head coach Jimmy Borendame said. "We had solid play from a couple of guys down the stretch which helped us take the win today."

Langley knotted the score at 1 with his singles win over Albertin, 6-0, 6-0 at the No. 2 position.

At No. 6 singles, Andres Monroy defeated Wishing in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1 to give Ball State back the lead, 2-1.

Davis won at No. 3 singles, 6-4, 7-5, over Smith to even the score back at 2. Then Pippos defeated Sansone in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3 to give the Blue Raiders their first lead of the match, 3-2.

Barnwell sealed the win for Middle Tennessee with his three set, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Doherty at No. 4 singles.

Rounding out play for the Blue Raiders, Waters battled at No. 1 singles but fell 0-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Albertin.

Middle Tennessee will be back in action on Monday, March 14 when the play host to Murray State at 2 p.m. There is no charge for admission to home tennis matches at the Buck Bouldin Tennis Center.

Complete Results Singles 1. Dalton Albertin (BSU) def. Shaun Waters (MT) 0-6, 7-5, 6-4 2. Matthew Langley (MT) def. Cliff Morrison (BSU) 6-0, 6-0 3. Ben Davis (MT) def. Zane Smith (BSU) 6-4, 7-5 4. Elliot Barnwell (MT) def. Alex Doherty (BSU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 5. Dimitri Pippos (MT) def. Austin Sansone (BSU) 6-4, 6-3 6. Andres Monroy (BSU) def. Kyle Wishing (MT) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles 1. Shaun Waters/Ben Davis (MT) def. Dalton Albertin/Cliff Morrison (BSU) 8-5 2. Derek Carpenter/Zane Smith (BSU) def. Elliot Barnwell/Matthew Langley (MT) 9-7 3. Austin Sansone/Shaun Bussert (BSU) def. Dimitri Pippos/Kyle Wishing (MT) 9-7

Match Notes: Ball State 8-5 Middle Tennessee 5-8 Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,6,3,5,4)

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