After narrowly dropping their opening match, Southwestern went on a huge run to take third place at the SCAC Championships this weekend.
The Pirates opened the tournament again against Colorado College and were in a dog fight to advance. Colorado took the lead after doubles play as Andy Clarage/Alvaro Rojas (#2) fell 8-3 and Alec Bergerson/Jonathan Sandoval (#3) 8-5. Egan Cornachione/Sam McCready (#1) were the only duo to notch a win in double play, easily winning 8-2..
Southwestern headed into singles play looking to drum-up some momentum but couldn't pull out the wins they needed to take the opening round win. Cornachione (#1) and Clarage (#2) were locked in heated battles as both matches went into a third set. Both Pirates pulled out the wins, Cornachione 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 and Clarage 0-6, 6-2, 6-1.
McCready (#3) fell in his three-set match 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 while Bergerson cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 win in #4 singles play. Sandoval and Rojas weren't able to pull out wins in their matches as Colorado College stole the 5-4 win. Sandoval (#5) fell 6-4, 7-6 and Rojas (#6) 6-3, 6-3.
With the loss the Pirates fell into the consolation bracket, facing them against Centenary College. Southwestern wasted no time exerting their dominance as they swept doubles action. Cornachione/McCready (#1) had the toughest outing but pulled out the win 9-8 (7-4). Clarage/Rojas (#2) trounced Provenza/Sangalli 8-0 while Bergerson/Sandoval (#3) won 8-2.
It didn't take long for Southwestern to secure the win as Clarage (#2) and McCready (#3) made quick work of their matches winning 6-1, 6-0 and 6-0, 6-0 respectively. With the win in hand the rest of the matches were called and the Pirates advanced to face Austin College in the consolation finals.
The 'Roos came out strong and snagged two wins in doubles play. Cornachione/McCready fell 8-6 and Clarage/Rojas 8-1 while Sandoval/Bergerson kept the Pirates close with an 8-0 win.
AC seemed poised to take the match after winning #1 singles over Cornachione 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, but Southwestern buckled down and won the rest of the singles matches to snag the 5-3 decision. Clarage won 6-1, 6-3, McCready 6-1, 6-2, Bergerson 6-1, 6-1, Rojas 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 and Sandoval was unfinished.
The win gave Southwestern the third place finish in the conference for the 2013 season.