Men’s Tennis Fends Off NC State in NCAA First Round Match, 4-3

Friday, May 8

Fort Worth, Texas

11:00 a.m.

Tulsa

NC State

Men’s Tennis Fends Off NC State in NCAA First Round Match, 4-3

5/8/2015 6:09:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Tulsa will take on either No. 6 TCU or Marist in Saturday’s second round match at 5:00 p.m.

By: Kevin Quicker

Results in PDF

With the match deadlocked at 3-3, junior Carlos Bautista put an end to the University of Tulsa's NCAA Tournament First Round match against No. 37 NC State, with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, win from the No. 6 singles position to help lift the Golden Hurricane into the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.

Tulsa, who led the match 3-0 before the Wolfpack's valiant comeback attempt came up short, improve to 18-12 on the season, and will play the winner of the No. 6 TCU and Marist match on Saturday May 9, at 5:00 p.m. NC State's season comes to a close, finishing the year with a 17-12 mark.

Tulsa got off to a quick start, after winning the always-important doubles point. Or Ram-Harel and Alejandro Espejo were the first duo off the court, when they topped NC State's Nick Horton and Beck Bond, 8-4, from the top doubles match. Carlos Bautista and Juan Gonzalez clinched the point from the No. 3 spot, after beating Robbie Mudge and Simon Norenius, 8-5.

Tulsa's No. 27-ranked Ram-Harel stayed hot through singles action, making quick work against No. 69 Robbie Mudge, 6-1, 6-1, from the No. 1 match. No. 87 Espejo followed suit and put TU up 3-0 with a straight-set victory over Beck Bond from the No. 2 singles match, 6-4, 6-4.

The Wolfpack managed to get a point back, after No. 110 Simon Norenius topped Matthew Kirby, 6-2, 7-6, from the No. 3 spot. About 30 minutes later, NCSU picked up the No. 5 singles point, as Thomas Weigel came from behind to beat Mitchell Pritchard, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

NC State tied the match at 3-3, after Gonzalez was forced to retire in the third set in which he trailed, 7-5, 5-7, 1-4, due to leg cramps. This set up Bautista for the match clincher on Court Six.

To follow along with tomorrow's match via live stats, click on the link provided: http://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=tcu.

NC State vs Tulsa
May 8, 2015 at Fort Worth, Texas
Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center

No. 30 Tulsa 4, No. 37 NC State 3

DOUBLES (Order of Finish: 1,3*)
1. Or Ram-Harel/Alejandro Espejo (TU) def. Nick Horton/Beck Bond (ST) 8-4
2. Thomas Weigel/Ian Dempster (ST) vs. No. 77 Matthew Kirby/Dylan McCloskey (TU), DNF
3. Carlos Bautista/Juan Gonzalez (TU) def. Robbie Mudge/Simon Norenius (ST) 8-5

SINGLES (Order of Finish: 1,2,3,5,4,6*)
1. No. 27 Or Ram-Harel (TU) def. No. 69 Robbie Mudge (ST) 6-1, 6-1
2. No. 87 Alejandro Espejo (TU) def. Beck Bond (ST) 6-4, 6-4
3. No. 110 Simon Norenius (ST) def. Matthew Kirby (TU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
4. No. 93 Austin Powell (ST) def. Juan Gonzalez (TU) 5-7, 7-5, 4-1, ret.
5. Thomas Weigel (ST) def. Mitchell Pritchard (TU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
6. Carlos Bautista (TU) def. Nick Horton (ST) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4

For all Tulsa men's tennis news and information, visit www.TulsaHurricane.com. Follow Tulsa Athletics on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TulsaHurricane and Facebook at www.facebook.com/TulsaHurricane. Follow Tulsa Men's Tennis on Twitter (http://twitter.com/TulsaMTennis) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TulsaMTennis).