Baker Tops Hastings, 7-0
(Hastings, NE) – In a match that was closer than the scoreboard showed, the Baker Wildcats took down the Broncos, 7-0, on Sunday.
(Hastings, NE) – In a match that was closer than the scoreboard showed, the Baker Wildcats took down the Broncos, 7-0, on Sunday.
Baker won at #2 doubles convincingly at 6-1, but Hastings' #3 doubles team of senior Nick Smeltzer and freshman Ethan Zimmerman won their match, 6-2, setting up the doubles point to be decided at #1 doubles. The freshmen team of Joel Carter and Ben Hafer got down 2-0 early, but rallied to take a 4-3 lead. Baker won some very close games down the stretch to take the match, 6-4, and the doubles point.
Carter won his first set handily at #1 singles, 6-0, but Baker responded strongly by winning the second set, 6-1, and 10-4 in the third set super-tiebreak. Smeltzer, after trailing early in the first set at #2 singles, rallied back only to lose 7-5. That late first set momentum carried over into the second set, however, as he took the set, 6-4. The third set super-tiebreak was tight as well, but Baker prevailed, 10-8.
Hafer also had a competitive match at #4 singles, as he had the first set tied at five, but dropped the last two games of the set. He later lost the second set 6-3. Baker won at #3 and #6 singles by giving up five games in each, while also winning all but two games at #5 singles.
Up next, Hastings will play Division III Martin Luther College as part of their Minnesota spring break trip on Tuesday, Mar. 11 at 9am inside the University of Minnesota's Baseline Tennis Center.
