LAFAYETTE, La. — Louisiana-Lafayette sent UTSA to its fourth consecutive loss with a narrow 4-3 victory on Thursday at Cajun Courts.
The Ragin' Cajuns (5-3), who snapped a three-match losing streak, jumped on top by winning the doubles point.
The Roadrunners (3-5) took the early advantage when Lina Hallgren and Charlene Tiwari came off court three with a 6-3 win against Juliette Clement and Elena Sava. It was the duo's team-leading sixth victory of the season.
However, Louisiana-Lafayette won the other two contests to go in front.
Abby Johnson and Alexandra Way defeated Nicole Karaklis and Alena Shichkova at the No. 2 position, 6-4, and that was followed by a 7-5 trimuph on center court by Melissa Burckhartt and Kelly Drew against Miriam Rosell Canudas and Jacobea Junger.
Burckhartt extended the lead to 2-0 with her 6-3, 6-1 victory against Shichkova at the No. 3 singles spot in the lineup and the advantage grew again when Way downed Hallgren in straight sets (6-4, 6-2) on the sixth court.
UTSA finally got on the board following Tiwari's 6-4, 6-3 win against Johnson at the fifth position and the Roadrunners drew to within one after Junger held off Sava at the No. 2 spot by a score of 6-2, 7-6 (6-2). Junger now is a team-best 6-1 this spring.
Brankovic clinched the victory for the Ragin' Cajuns with her three-set triumph (6-1, 3-6, 6-1) against Karaklis at the fourth position.
Miriam Rosell Canudas picked up the Roadrunners' other victory of the day with a 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7-5) win against Drew on center court.
UTSA will continue its weekend road trip in the Bayou State with a noon contest on Friday at former Southland Conference foe Northwestern State (0-4).
Louisiana-Lafayette 4, UTSA 3
Doubles
1. Melissa Burckhartt/Kelly Drew (ULL) def. Miriam Rosell Canudas/Jacobea Junger (UTSA) 7-5
2. Abby Johnson/Alexandra Way (ULL) def. Nicole Karaklis/Alena Shichkova (UTSA) 6-4
3. Lina Hallgren/Charlene Tiwari (UTSA) def. Juliette Clement/Elena Sava (ULL) 6-3
Singles
1. Miriam Rosell Canudas (UTSA) def. Kelly Drew (ULL) 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7-5)
2. Jacobea Junger (UTSA) def. Elena Sava (ULL) 6-2, 7-6 (6-2)
3. Melissa Burckhartt (ULL) def. Alena Shichkova (UTSA) 6-3, 6-1
4. Danan Brankovic (ULL) def. Nicole Karaklis (UTSA) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
5. Charlene Tiwari (UTSA) def. Abby Johnson (ULL) 6-4, 6-3
6. Alexandra Way (ULL) def. Lina Hallgren (UTSA) 6-4, 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,6,5,2,4,1)