GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Wingate University outlasted Tusculum University 4-3 in South Atlantic Conference men's tennis action Friday afternoon at the Nichols Tennis Complex.

The 13th-ranked Bulldogs (8-1, 7-0 SAC) won the doubles point, but ended up locked in a 2-2 battle with the Pioneers (9-3, 5-2 SAC) before winning two straight singles matches to clinch the victory.

Wingate picked up two wins in doubles to take the team point, with Enrico Giacomini and Edis Nokic teaming for a 6-1 win over Dmitry Bezborodov and Leon Huck at flight two to open doubles play. Tusculum came back as Nemanja Subanovic and Frank Bonacia claimed a 6-1 win at flight one over Roy Stepanov and Matteo Gostoli, but the Bulldogs' Josep Canyadell and Matthew Jones were victorious 6-4 at flight three over Manuel Guedes de Almeida and Kenta Kondou to put Wingate up 1-0.

In singles, Tolunay Sumer beat Subanovic 6-4, 6-4 at flight two to put the Bulldogs up 2-0, but the Pioneers battled back as Kondou defeated Nokic 6-3, 6-3 at flight six and Leon Huck rallied for a 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 win over Canyadell at flight four to level the score at 2-2.

Stepanov pushed the Bulldogs ahead 3-2 with a 6-2, 6-3 win at flight five over Almeida, and Giacomini came up with the clincher with a 7-5, 1-6, 6-2 victory over Bezborodov at flight one. Moments later, Bonacia finished off George Barfoot 7-5, 6-4 at flight three to set the final margin.

Tusculum was scheduled to travel to Catawba for a match with the Indians on Saturday, but the contest has been postponed due to the threat of rain. The Pioneers are next slated to host Carson-Newman on Wednesday, March 31 at 2 p.m. at the Nichols Tennis Complex.