BEAUMONT, Texas – For the second time this season, the Lamar University men's tennis team squared off against Abilene Christian in a non-conference tilt, and the shorthanded Cardinals (due to injuries) squad put up a scrappy effort but fell short in a heartbreaker, 4-3, Friday afternoon at the Thompson Family Tennis Center.
 
After the Wildcats won two of the three doubles matches to take the doubles point, Lamar University turned up the pressure. With everyone playing up two spots in the lineup, the Cardinals found themselves in an early 3-0 hole as ACU took the first two singles matches of the afternoon, but the Cardinals would respond.
 
Big Red rattled off three-straight wins beginning with Joan Crespo's 6-0, 7-5 victory over Dennis Dutine at No. 4 singles. Crespo was followed by Martin Garcia-Ripoll's winner on court No. 1 (in straight sets) and then came Haruki Omori-Cowie's marathon match at No. 3 singles.
 
Omori-Cowie won in straight sets but had to battle through a tiebreaker in each set for the victory, but Omori-Cowie prevailed. The junior posted a 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4) decision to pull Big Red even at three.
 
With the victory at No. 3 singles, all eyes were focused on the match on court five. Unfortunately, the match at No. 5 ended just moments later with ACU taking the point and the overall match.
 
The Cardinals will now hit the road for Jackson, Miss., for a Sunday morning match against Jackson State. The match against the Tigers will begin at 10 a.m.