WILSON, NC – Sophomore Martin Barbera won in a tiebreaker to earn a three-set win at No.2 singles that snapped a 3-3 deadlock and gave 44th-ranked Francis Marion University a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Barton College, Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 21) in Conference Carolinas men's tennis action.
 
Francis Marion ups its overall record to 7-5 and remains unbeaten (2-0) in conference play, while the Bulldogs fall to 4-8 and 1-1.  The Patriots will return home to will host a pair of conference matches this weekend on the Kassab Courts: Friday at 2 p.m. against Belmont Abbey College and Saturday at noon against Converse University.
 
Despite a 6-4 win at No.1 doubles by juniors Liam Day and Leonel Gonzalez, Barton won the doubles point with victories at the other two doubles matches.
 
The Bulldogs claimed singles victories sandwiched around a 6-4, 6-1 win by Gonzalez at the No.4 position to give Barton a 3-1 advantage.
 
Francis Marion then rallied to win the final three singles decisions to post the come-from-behind victory.  Day started the comeback with a 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 win at the top spot and sophomore Luis Lopez Sarasa followed with a 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 decision at the No.5 spot.  Barbera then finished the match with a thrilling 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5) win at the No.2 position.
 
Both Barbera and Day improve to team-best 10-2 season marks in singles play.
 
 
Men's Tennis Match Results
03/21/2023 at Wilson, N.C. (Bulldogs Complex)
#44 Francis Marion 4, Barton 3
Singles competition
1. Liam Day (FMU) def. Hannes Tylehed (BARTON) 4-6, 6-0, 6-3
2. Martin Barbera (FMU) def. Felipe Mioch (BARTON) 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Johan Holgersson (BARTON) def. Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) def. Philip Nordberg (BARTON) 6-4, 6-1
5. Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) def. G. Busquets Brau (BARTON) 1-6, 6-1, 6-4
6. Deni Furtado Brlenic (BARTON) def. Adam Ernberg (FMU) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Liam Day/Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) def. Wilhelm Karlsson/Johan Holgersson (BARTON) 6-4
2. G. Busquets Brau/Philip Nordberg (BARTON) def. Martin Barbera/Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) 6-2
3. Hannes Tylehed/Felipe Mioch (BARTON) def. Harri Lloyd-Evans/Adam Ernberg (FMU) 6-4
 
Match Notes:  Francis Marion 7-5, 2-0 CC; National ranking #44
Barton 4-8, 1-1 CC
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,4,6,1,5,2)
T-2:30 A-50