Taylor Patterson's straight-set win at number four singles locked up Tusculum College's 5-4 victory over Mars Hill College in a South Atlantic Conference Women's tennis match Friday afternoon at the Nichols Tennis Complex.

The Pioneers (15-2, 6-1 SAC) clinched a berth in the upcoming Food Lion SAC Tournament with the victory, while the Lions dropped to 8-7 overall and 4-2 in the conference.

With the Pioneers holding a 4-3 lead in the match, Patterson defeated Jazqueline Rouquet 6-2, 6-1 at flight four to give the Pioneers the decisive point. Earlier, Patterson and Courtney Conley picked up a 8-3 victory at flight two doubles over Anna Rickenbaker and Rouquet.

The difference in the match was the fact that the Lions fielded a five-player lineup, creating forfeits at flight six of singles and flight three of doubles. Megan Buckmaster was the beneficiary of the default in both singles and doubles, claiming a share of the doubles point with Kate Hutchinson.

Hutchinson provided the Pioneers with their third on-court point of the match with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at flight five over Jordan Dockery.

Tusculum will return to the courts Saturday at noon at Lincoln Memorial University.