Hogs keep it close, but fall at Auburn on Sunday

AUBURN, Ala. — Arkansas fell to the Auburn, 4-3, on Sunday in its final regular season road match.

Arkansas’ start was promising. For just the second time in conference action and the first since the SEC opener, the Razorbacks opened the match winning doubles.

Auburn held the early advantage as Tad Maclean and Olle Thestrup defeated Jose Salazar and Pedro Alonso 6-4 on court two.

Arkansas’ Josh Howard-Tripp and Jose Alonso defeated Deigo Chavarria and Brandon Laubser 6-2 to even things, before No. 88 Oscar Mesquida and Adam Sanjurjo clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 win over Carles Sarrio and Matteo De Vincentis.

In singles, Arkansas would quickly stretch its lead to 2-0, as No. 38 Salazar picked up a 6-1, 6-1 win over Edward Nguyen at the top spot.

Salazar has now won seven of his last eight matches to improve to a team-best 22-10 mark overall this season, including 16-6 this spring.

Auburn proceeded to take three straight courts to take a 3-2 lead.

Jose Alonso fell 6-2, 6-2 to Laubser on court six, followed by Sanjurjo falling 6-3, 6-4 on court two to No. 100 De Vincentis to even the match at 2-2.

Auburn’s first lead came with a win on court four, as Sarrio defeated Howard-Tripp 6-4, 6-4.

The Razorbacks would respond however, as Mesquida defeated Thestrup in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 to even the match back up at 3-3. Maclean would take the third set to clinch the win for Auburn, winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

The match came down to court five, where Pedro Alonso forced a third set with Maclean.

Auburn 4, Arkansas 3

Singles Results – Order of finish (1,6,2,4,3,5)
1. #38 Jose Salazar (AR) def. Edward Nguyen (AU) 6-1, 6-1
2. #100 Matteo De Vincentis (AU) def. Adam Sanjurjo (AR) 6-3, 6-4
3. Oscar Mesquida (AR) def. Olle Thestrup (AU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
4. Carles Sarrio (AU) def. Josh Howard-Tripp (AR) 6-4, 6-4
5. Tad Maclean (AU) def. Pedro Alonso (AR) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
6. Brandon Laubser (AU) def. Jose Alonso (AR) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles Results – Order of finish (2,3,1)
1. #88 Oscar Mesquida/Adam Sanjurjo (AR) def. Carles Sarrio/Matteo De Vincentis (AU) 6-3
2. Tad Maclean/Olle Thestrup (AU) def. Jose Salazar/Pedro Alonso (AR) 6-4
3. Josh Howard-Tripp/Jose Alonso (AR) def. Diego Chavarria/Brandon Laubser (AU) 6-2