BEAUMONT, Texas – Sophomore Joshua Taylor and freshman Filippo Salsini rallied for a hard-fought victory at No. 2 doubles, 7-6 (7-5), but Lamar University fell to No. 3 Baylor, 7-0, Monday afternoon at the Thompson Family Tennis Center.
 
The Cardinals (7-5) put up a strong fight in doubles winning at line two and forcing the match on court three to a 12^th game before being decided.
 
"I'm very appreciative to Coach Woodson for calling us up and seeing if we would be willing to play them again here in Beaumont," said LU head coach Scott Shankles. "I thought the crowd was amazing today. They provided a lot of energy and I think our guys fed off that energy.
 
"I felt like we challenged them hard in doubles. We won at line two and even though we lost the doubles point, the energy from the crowd really made us feel like we had won the point. Then in singles Baylor does what they always do, and they take control. I thought we fought hard throughout the match."
 
Trailing 1-0 after the doubles point, the two teams transitioned to the singles competition. The nation's third-ranked team got back-to-back wins from the bottom part of its order to take a 3-0 lead – needing only one more win for the overall victory.
 
Sophomore Axel Vila Antuna was locked in a tight battle on court No. 1 but came up short in the first set, 6-4. Vila Antuna was trying to battle back in the second to force a third to keep the match alive, but the Bears tacked on another singles win for the clinching fourth point.
 
Unfortunately for the Red and White, Vila Antuna's second set ended by the exact same score as the first.
 
The Cardinals return to action Sunday when they travel to UTSA. The match against the Roadrunners will begin at 10 a.m. and will be the team's final contest before they open Southland Conference play.