Tyler Waddell - Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Salisbury, NC – The Pfeiffer men's tennis team (2-3) edged Catawba (5-3) in a close 5-4 victory at the Johnson Tennis Center on Tuesday afternoon.

Doubles proved to be the difference in this tight matchup, as the Falcons took a 2-1 lead entering singles play. No. 1 Bjorn Barwinski and Thomas Hubble defeated Catawba's Michael Patch and Luca Picci 8-6 to get things rolling. From the No. 2 spot, Pfeiffer duo Axel Woerner and Raul Ruiz were able to beat Ryen Reid and Cason Hiers by the same score. The Indians salvaged the match at No. 3 when Iago Nunez and Brad Smethurst slipped past Bradley Batten and Brandon Marchant, 8-5.

Pfeiffer took a strong 3-1 lead when Woerner handled Patch from No. 1 singles in two sets, 6-1, 6-2. But Catawba fought back, winning No. 3, 4 and 6 singles to claim a 4-3 advantage before the Falcons' Barwinski battled for a 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 win over Picci at No. 2 to even the score. David Weir sealed the deal at No. 5, conquering Hiers 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to give the team its second win of the 2017 spring campaign.

With back-to-back wins in the books, Pfeiffer will host Shaw on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Singles competition

1. Axel Woerner (PFUMT) def. Michael Patch (CATM) 6-1, 6-2

3. Lucas Miller (CATM) def. Thomas Hubble (PFUMT) 6-1, 6-2

4. Ryen Reid (CATM) def. Raul Ruiz (PFUMT) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1

5. David Weir (PFUMT) def. Cason Hiers (CATM) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

6. Adam Rocko (CATM) def. Eduan Louw (PFUMT) 6-2, 7-5

Doubles competition

1. Bjorn Barwinski/Thomas Hubble (PFUMT) def. Michael Patch/Luca Picci (CATM) 8-6

3. Iago Nunez/Brad Smethurst (CATM) def. Bradley Batten/Brandon Marchant (PFUMT) 8-5