SPOKANE, Wash. – Colby Cinqmars pulled out a win at #6 singles to secure a 5-4 victory for the Whitworth men's tennis team over visiting Linfield on Saturday at the Scotford Tennis Center.

The Pirates improved to 4-7 overall and 1-1 in the NWC, while the Wildcats dropped to 2-6, 1-2.

Whitworth got a huge jump on the win by sweeping the doubles matches.  Payton Romey and Henry Preacher got things started with an 8-6 win over Nick Gabelman and Wilhelm Saiga at #1 doubles.  Nathan Tjelle and Ethan Warring rallied from an early deficit to defeat Seth Lee and Brooks Lerfald 8-4 at #2.  Jess Weaver and Lance Dunn finished off the sweep by pulling out an 8-7 (9-7) win over Alexander Rosenquist and Rogue Stone at #3.

Warring made the score 4-0 in favor of the Pirates with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Stone at #2 singles.  Then Linfield rallied.  Saiga topped Tjelle 6-4, 6-1 at #1 singles and Lerfald pulled out a marathon 7-5, 7-6 (7-0) win over Romey at #3 to make it 4-3. 

Lee got the Wildcats within 4-3 with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Weaver at #4 singles.  That set up Cinqmars, who trailed early in both sets.  He beat Gabelman 6-4, 7-5 to clinch the team win. 

Rosenquist edged Preacher 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 in the only match to go beyond two sets.

Whitworth will host Lewis & Clark on Sunday.