Braves Breeze Past Barton

 WILSON – Visiting UNCP toughed out a pair of doubles victories, and then won four singles matches in straight sets, to key a 7-2 victory over Barton on Thursday afternoon at the Barton Tennis Complex.

The win helped the Braves (6-11) improve to 5-4 in non-conference matches this year, while marking the second straight victory in the series for the Black and Gold as well. Barton (5-8), who had won three of its last four outings coming into the day, had a two-game winning skein snapped with the setback.

Madeline DiNunzio and Maricel Quintero gave the Braves a quick doubles point with an 8-4 win over Jaime Galasso and Francesca Del Pozo on court No. 3, but the Bulldogs fought back to tie the score on Mika Deane and Lindsey Frederick's 9-7 win over Jenna McGary and Mia Winterbottom at No. 1 doubles.

UNCP would retake the lead a short time later, however, as Christian Minnick and Hannah Herlocker outdueled Lindsay Toth and Carol Fischer by a 9-7 score at No. 2 doubles.

Deane bested McGary 6-3, 6-4 in the featured singles match on court No. 1, but that would be the last team point of the day for the Bulldogs who succumbed to the veracity of the visiting Braves. Herlocker surrendered just one game in topping Toth 6-0 and 6-1 at No. 3 singles, while Quintero exuded the same type of dominance in ousting Galasso 6-2, 6-0 at No. 4 singles. Minnick would clinch the victory for UNCP a short time later with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Del Pozo on court No. 6.

Winterbottom's 6-0, 7-5 win at No. 2 singles over Frederick, as well as DiNunzio's 6-4, 4-6, 10-6 victory on court No. 5 would complete the scoring on the day.

The Braves will step back into Peach Belt Conference play on Sunday when they make the trip to St. Augustine, Fla., to battle 16th-ranked Flagler (6-2, 5-1) in a noon matchup at the Flagler Tennis Center.

UNC Pembroke 7, Barton 2
Mar 24, 2011 at Wilson, N.C. (Barton Tennis Complex)