Fairfield boys tennis nets SEC road win

FORT MADISON — The Fairfield boys tennis team has had a lot of close calls this season, but the Trojans finally broke through for a big win on Tuesday.

The Trojans nipped the hosting Bloodhounds 5-4 for their first conference win of the season, just two days before the SEC tournament.

The Trojans split the singles matches, winning all three of the lower matchups. Garrett Flanagan the No. 4 match 7-6(4), 6-3. Jace Hannes won the No. 5 match 6-4, 2-6, 10-8, and Tristan Paton dominated the No. 6 match 6-1, 6-1.

The Trojans struggled up top, as Blake Holden dropped the No. 1 singles match 6-1, 6-1, and Jeremy Goodale fell 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2. In the No. 3 match, Brecken Courtright lost a nail-biter, 6-4, 4-6, 10-7.

The Trojans’ No. 1 doubles team of Holden and Goodale lost 6-0, 6-1, but the other two teams did enough to win the day. The No. 2 team of Courtright and Paton won 6-1, 7-6(3), and the No. 3 team of Hannes and Flanagan won 6-2, 7-6(4).