No. 29 Auburn saw its home win streak ended at 10 in an arduous 4-3 loss to No. 35 Mississippi State Friday afternoon at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
"Although we had some individual wins, that was a team loss today and the whole team is feeling it," Auburn head coach Bobby Reynolds said. "At this point of the SEC season, every match will be close and competed down to the end, and that was the case today. We just had one point less than our opponent.
"We had a great crowd today with the Auburn Jungle, kids and families and everyone here to support us. We appreciate their interest and energy and hope to see everyone again Sunday."
Although Auburn's top tandem of Tad Maclean and Finn Murgett remained undefeated in SEC play with a 6-4 win in No. 1 doubles over the Bulldogs' Florian Broska and Gregor Ramskogler, Mississippi State managed to take the doubles point with wins on courts three and two, only the fourth time this spring that the Tigers have not put the opening point on the scoreboard.
In singles, the squads split the first sets, but MSU won in straight sets on courts two and five to post a 3-0 team lead. The remaining four matches went to a third set, but Gregor Ramskogler clinched the team victory for Mississippi State with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Raul Dobai on court four.
Tyler Stice came from a set down to upset No. 39 Florian Broska 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on court one. Tad Maclean won his match in three sets, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 over Carles Hernandez and Finn Murgett finished the scoring for the Tigers with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win over Davide Tortora on court six.
Auburn is 15-5 for the spring season, 4-3 in SEC play and ranked No. 29 in the latest ITA team ratings and No. 25 in the Tennis Channel/USTA Top 25. No. 35 Mississippi State is 13-8 overall and 3-5 in conference action.
Sunday, Auburn entertains No. 24 Texas A&M (17-9, 4-2 SEC) at noon and Alabama A&M (2-10) Sunday at 4 p.m. Fans will receive free koozies at the first match and free pizza at the second match while supplies last. All Auburn home tennis action is at the Yarbrough Tennis Center (1717 Richland Road, Auburn) and admission is free.
#35 Mississippi State 4, #29 Auburn 3
Singles
#91 Tyler Stice (AU) def. #39 Florian Broska (MSU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
#72 Nemanja Malesevic (MSU) def. #115 Jan Galka (AU) 6-3, 6-1
#111 Tad Maclean (AU) def. Carles Hernandez (MSU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
Gregor Ramskogler (MSU) def. Raul Dobai (AU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
Alberto Colas (MSU) def. Will Nolan (MSU) 6-3, 6-2
Finn Murgett (AU) def. Davide Tortora (MSU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
Doubles
#60 Murgett/Maclean (AU) def. Broska/Ramskogler (MSU) 6-4
Hernandez/Malesevic (MSU) def. Galka/Stice (AU) 6-3
Colas/Tortora (MSU) def. Dobai/Josh Raab (AU) 7-5
Time of match: 3:17; Order of finish: Doubles: 1,2,3; Singles: 2,5,4,1,3,6