HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Kai Breitbach posted a straight-set victory at the top of the singles lineup, but Southern Miss downed UTSA, 4-1, on Friday afternoon at the C-USA Showcase at the USM Tennis Facility.
Breitbach swept Wen-Po Tseng by a 6-2, 6-2 count at No. 1 singles for the freshman's third win of the season and that gave the Roadrunners (3-10) their lone point of the opening day of the round-robin tournament.
The Golden Eagles (10-2) grabbed an early lead by winning the doubles point.
Daniel Merker and Jorman Reyes teamed up for a 6-2 decision against Christian Carrillo and Juri Reckow at No. 1.
Chao-Yu Huang and Tseng and got by Igor Cantanhede and Patrick Poestinger with the same score to hand the home team a 1-0 advantage.
Teeradon Tortrakul pushed Southern Miss' lead to 2-0 with a 6-2, 6-0 triumph over Poestinger at No. 3 singles.
Breitbach's win pulled the visitors to within 2-1, but the Golden Eagles clinched the match with wins at the fifth spot by Reyes against Carrillo (6-0, 7-6) and at No. 4 by Huang over Takeru Watanabe (6-3, 6-0).
The Roadrunners will face UAB at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Southern Miss 4, UTSA 1
Doubles
1. Merker/Reyes (USM) def. Carrillo/Reckow (UTSA) 6-2
2. Huang/Tseng (USM) def. Cantanhede/Poestinger (UTSA) 6-2
3. Rishi/Tortrakul (USM) vs. Brand/Breitbach (UTSA) 5-1, unfinished
Singles
1. Kai Breitbach (UTSA) def. Wen-Po Tseng (USM) 6-2, 6-2
2. Daniel Merker (USM) vs. Juri Reckow (UTSA) 6-4, 4-1, unfinished
3. Teeradon Tortrakul (USM) def. Patrick Poestinger (UTSA) 6-2, 6-0
4. Chao-Yu Huang (USM) def. Takeru Watanabe (UTSA) 6-3, 6-0
5. Jorman Reyes (USM) def. Christian Carrillo (UTSA) 6-0, 7-6
6. Rakshit Rishi (USM) vs. Igor Cantanhede (UTSA) 7-6, 3-2, unfinished
