March 20, 2005
ENNIS, Texas - Senior leadership helps the top-ranked Baylor men's tennis team defeat Big 12 foe No. 13 Oklahoma State, 4-3 at the Lion Ennis Indoor Center in Ennis, Texas. Due to rain delays and travel time, match play did not end until 12:35 a.m. Sunday morning.
For the second time this season, the Bears have been forced to travel north to the indoor courts due to rain. The last time the Bears played a match in Ennis, Baylor defeated No. 2 Virginia 4-3 on March 6.
The Bears took an early 1-0 lead after taking the points on the Nos. 1 and 2 courts from the Cowboys. The No. 22-ranked tandem of Lars Poerschke and Michal Kokta won its match on the second court 8-2. The duo improves to 14-4 overall after losing its previous two matches.
Baylor continued to play strong in singles action, while Oklahoma State grabbed its first point on the night in the fourth court to set the score at 3-1. No. 37 Benjamin Becker won his 14th singles match of the season, while No. 19 Poerschke won his 26th match, a team high.
The Cowboys narrowed the Bears' lead after No. 50 Mark Van Elden upset No. 1 Benedikt Dorsch 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 making it 3-2. The loss is the first of the season for Dorsch who won 15 straight before facing defeat on Saturday.
However it was senior Greg Shearer who clinched the win for Baylor by taking the decisive point in the sixth court. Shearer, who had not played since Feb. 5, defeated Felipe Diaz 6-4, 6-3 to win the match.
Baylor returns to action Monday as the Bears host No. 29 California. Match time is set for 6 p.m.
Doubles
1. #12 Dorsch/Zgaga(BU) def. Kuharic/Diaz (OSU) 8-2
2. #37 Poerschke/Kokta(BU) def. Van Elden/Byrnes (OSU) 8-2
3. Becker/Reckewey(BU) def. Bohunicky/Burmistrau (OSU) 8-4
Singles
1. #50 Mark Van Elden (OSU) def. #1 Benedikt Dorsch(BU) 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
2. #37 Benjamin Becker(BU) def. Tomas Bohunicky (OSU) 6-3, 6-2
3. #19 Lars Poerschke(BU) def. Boris Kuharic (OSU)6-1, 2-6, 6-1
4. Daniel Byrnes (OSU) def. Michal Kokta(BU) 6-1, 6-4
5. Artsem Burmstrau (OSU) def. Vladimir Portnov(BU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Greg Shearer (BU) def. Felipe Diaz (OSU) 6-4, 6-3
Baylor 15-0, 4-0
Oklahoma St. 10-4, 1-1
