HICKORY, N.C. – The Railsplitters (2-3, 1-1 SAC) picked up their first South Atlantic Conference victory Saturday on the road in Hickory, N.C., capturing a nail biting 5-4 win over the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears (3-5, 0-2 SAC). Saturday's triumph avenged a 5-4 loss to the Bears at the LMU Tennis Complex last season.
 
The Bears carried a slim 2-1 advantage after doubles action as Lincoln Memorial's top doubles tandem of Joshua Coulthard (Staindrop, England) and Will Sparks (Knoxville, Tenn.) were edged out 8-6 by Lenoir-Rhyne's top duo of Marvin Mueller and Patrick Bauer. Pepe Batalla (Barcelona, Spain) and Joshua Peress (Montreal, Quebec) handed Matthew Ledford and Filip Dobrosavljevic an 8-2 thumping at No. 2 doubles, while Stefan Hall (Stratford, PEI) and Carlos Zunino (Samborondon, Ecuador) dropped an 8-5 decision in the final flight.
 
After Coulthard and Sparks dropped the opening two single matches at No. 1 and No. 2, the Railsplitters rolled of four straight wins to capture the 5-4 come-from-behind victory. Batalla picked up the first of the four consecutive wins at No. 3 as he defeated Patrick Bauer in three sets, wining 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, while Stefan Hall picked up the win at No. 4 by reeling of 6-4, 6-3 frames. Joshua Peress and Carlos Zunino completed the comeback as the two won 6-1, 6-3 and 7-6, 7-6, respectively.
 
The Railsplitters will be back in action tomorrow, as the travel to the Palmetto State to tangle with the Coker Cobras in SAC action. Doubles action is slated to get underway at 1 p.m. from Hartsville, S.C.

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Lincoln Memorial 5, Lenoir-Rhyne 4
Mar 15, 2015 at Hickory, NC (Hickory High School)

Singles competition 1. Marvin Mueller (LR) def. Joshua Coulthard (LMU) 6-1, 6-0

2. Robin Hochguertel (LR) def. Will Sparks (LMU) 6-2, 6-1

3. Pepe Batalla (LMU) def. Patrick Bauer (LR) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3

4. Stefan Hall (LMU) def. Filip Dobrosavljevic (LR) 6-4, 6-3

5. Joshua Peress (LMU) def. John Christian Reid (LR) 6-1, 6-3

6. Carlos Zunino (LMU) def. Matthew Ledford (LR) 7-6, 7-6

 

Doubles competition 1. Marvin Mueller/Patrick Bauer (LR) def. Joshua Coulthard/Will Sparks (LMU) 8-6

2. Pepe Batalla/Joshua Peress (LMU) def. Matthew Ledford/Filip Dobrosavljevic (LR) 8-2

3. Robin Hochguertel/John Christian Reid (LR) def. Stefan Hall/Carlos Zunino (LMU) 8-5

 

Match Notes Lincoln Memorial 2-3, 1-1 SAC

Lenoir-Rhyne 3-5, 0-2 SAC