By: McPherson College Athletics
MOBILE, Ala. (macbulldogs.com) — With just minutes until game time on Tuesday (May 16), lightning and rain came through the Mobile Tennis Center, causing an over six-hour weather delay before the McPherson College Bulldogs were set to square off against the Ave Maria Gyrenes.
What happened after that has only been done three times before, as the Bulldogs knocked off the No. 13-seeded Gyrenes 4-1 to pick up their first NAIA Tournament win since 2018.
“Wow,” head coach Keiran President said. “The only thing I have to say is believe. We just had to believe, and we did!”
The Bulldogs took control early, winning the doubles point thanks to wins by Trey Murphy and Oscar Brouwer 6-4 and Daniel Marcano and Celien Botlan 7-5.
Brouwer made it a 2-0 Bulldog lead with a convincing 6-2, 6-3 win in the #4 spot, then Botlan pushed the advantage to 3-0 overall after winning 6-3, 6-2. The Gyrenes showed signs of life late when Gaston Erhardt knocked off Martin Millos, but Arthur Nardy finished off the upset victory with a 6-3, 6-4 win.
“We came out hungry today,” President said. “We got off the bus today and we just wanted it. Then the rain happened, so we went back to the hotel, then came back hungrier than ever.”
Full Results
Doubles
1. Cruz/Cirenza (AMU) vs. Beltran/Millos (MC) — 5-4 UNF
2. Murphy/Brouwer (MC) def. Erhardt/Orihuela (AMU) — 6-4
3. Marcano/Botlan (MC) def. Thireau/Williams (AMU) — 7-5
Singles
1. Gustavo Cruz (AMU) vs. Michael Beltran (MC) — 7-6, 5-1 UNF
2. Fernando Orihuela (AMU) vs. Marcus Nardy (MC) — 4-6, 6-4, 1-1 UNF
3. Gaston Erhardt (AMU) def. Martin Millos (MC) — 6-2, 6-4
4. Oscar Brouwer (MC) def. Luca Cirenza (AMU) — 6-2, 6-3
5. Celien Botlan (MC) def. Carlos Thireau (AMU) — 6-3, 6-2
6. Arthur Nardy (MC) def. Bruno Duarte (AMU) — 6-3, 6-4
Up Next
The Bulldogs advance to the second round of the NAIA Tournament for the first time since 2018, where they will square off against No. 4-seeded Tennessee Wesleyan.
