Box Score

JACKSONVILLE – In a battle of two in-state rivals and former conference foes, Samford held off a late Jacksonville State charge to escape the JSU Tennis Complex with a 4-2 win on Wednesday.

The duel began in doubles as the Bulldogs' claimed a tie breaker at No. 2 to clinch the first point of the match.  After cruising to an 8-2 win over the Gamecocks at No. 3, the SU tandem of Elliot Barnwell and Ryan Shidler, outlasted Jax State's duo of Igor Santos and Felipe Watanabe, 9-8, to post the doubles point.  It was the first time Santos and Watanabe were paired together this season.  The Gamecocks' top pairing of Axel Sundberg and Nenad Marcec turned in a 9-8 win over SU's team of Zac Dunkle and Alexander Sajonz.

In singles play, the Bulldogs (4-2) pushed their lead out to 3-0 and looking to clinch the match in ease, but JSU (2-4) rallied to make them work for the win.  SU won at No. 1 after JSU's Sundberg retired in the second set.  SU's Fernando Costa topped JSU's Felipe Diaz, 6-0, 6-2 for the 3-0 lead. 

Santos nabbed JSU's first point of the match after he disposed of SU's Carson Kadi, 6-3, 6-2.  The junior from Brazil moved to 4-0 when playing at the No. 2 spot this season.

SU clinched the match point at No. 6 after Ryan Shidler downed JSU's Joshua Bourke in a three-set thriller.  After splitting the first two sets, Shidler registered a 6-2 victory in the third set for Bulldog win.

Marcec also found himself in a three-set duel with SU's Elliot Barnwell at No. 3 before Barwell retired mid way through the third set.  Barnwell posted a 6-3 win in the opening set before being blanked by Marcec in the second set.  The Belgrade, Serbia-junior was leading in the deciding set before the match was stopped due to Barnwell's retirement.

Jax State continues its slate against in-state programs this weekend as it will face Auburn University at Montgomery in men's and women's action on Friday, Feb. 17 before travelling to Troy on Saturday, Feb. 18.  The AUM women's squad is ranked No. 1 in the NAIA Poll, while the men's program is ranked fourth in the nation.