Box Score NEWBERRY, SC – Junior Luis Lopez Sarasa rallied to capture a 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 win at No.3 singles that provided the winning point for Francis Marion University in a 4-3 road defeat of Newberry College, Thursday (Feb. 8) in non-conference men's tennis action.
 
Francis Marion improves to 2-1 and will play at local-rival Coker University on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
 
After Newberry (1-2) won the No.3 doubles match, FMU rallied to capture the other two decisions and take a 1-0 advantage.  Lopez Sarasa and junior Austin Vienna claimed a 6-1 victory at the No.2 spot, followed by senior Leonel Gonzalez and junior Martin Barbera winning 7-6 (10-8) at No.1 to give the Patriots the early lead.
 
Newberry responded with singles victories at positions No.6, No.2, and No.4 to take a commanding 3-1 lead.
 
Martin started the comeback with a 6-0, 4-3 (retired) win at the top spot.  Freshman Alexander Mirkov followed with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 victory at No.5 and Lopez Sarasa ended the nearly six-hour marathon match with the clinching win at No.3 singles.
 
 
2/8/2024 at Newberry, SC  (Oakland Mills)
Francis Marion University 4, Newberry College 3
Singles competition
1. Martin Barbera (FMU) def. Daniel Watson (NEW) 6-0, 4-3, retired
2. David Negzaoui (NEW) def. Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
3. Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) def. James Vincent (NEW) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
4. Joshua Fritz (NEW) def. Ben Scott (FMU) 5-7, 6-1, 6-1
5. Alexander Mirkov (FMU) def. Lucas Mruk (NEW) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
6. Thilo Lorenz (NEW) def. Pedro Caro (FMU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Martin Barbera/Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) def. Daniel Watson/James Vincent (NEW) 7-6 (8-6)
2. Luis Lopez Sarasa/Austin Vienna (FMU) def. David Negzaoui/Joshua Fritz (NEW) 6-1
3. Thilo Lorenz/Lucas Mruk (NEW) def. Harri Lloyd-Evans/Ben Scott (FMU) 7-6 (7-4)
 
Match Notes:             Francis Marion University 2-1
Newberry College 1-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,2,4,1,5,3)