BELTON, Texas. – The Whitworth Pirates suffered a 5-2 loss to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on Wednesday afternoon in the final men's tennis match of a spring break trip to Texas.  

In a difficult stretch of the schedule, the Pirates (3-10 overall, 3-5 NWC) have now lost five consecutive contests. The Crusaders drew even at 6-6.

UMHB secured the doubles point with wins in the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. Ryan Ashley and Matthew Morrison beat the top Crusader pair 6-4 before Hatt Hossack and Easton Weir fell 6-3 in the No. 3 match. Colby Cinqmars and Matt Froslan battled hard but fell 7-6 (7-1) in a tiebreaker.

For the second straight time this week, the first three singles matches went to a three-set tiebreaker. This time, the Bucs came out on top twice. Morrison got it done 6-0, 5-7, 1-0 (10-5) and Ashley won 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-4). After a first set 6-4 loss, Weir fought to a 7-6 (8-6) second set win before UMBH's Sam Eli edged the third set 10-7. The Crusaders claimed the final three matches in two sets. Scott Barret clinched the match with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Whitworth's Landon LaBrie.

Whitworth will return to Scotford Tennis Center for a trio of matches this weekend. The Pirates host Pacific (Ore.) and Eastern Washington on Saturday before Willamette visits on Sunday.