Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University sophomore Josh Eardley (Newcastle, Staffordshire, England) won the deciding singles match, lifting the number 42 Bulldogs to a 5-4 victory over Tusculum in the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament semi-finals Friday at the Rock Hill Tennis Center. Wingate’s triumph avenges a 5-4 regular season loss on March 22. The Bulldogs are 16-10 overall, while the Tusculum Pioneers fall to 15-5 overall.

Eardley defeated Tusculum freshman Daniel Gianopulos (Fresno, Calif.) 6-2, 6-0 at the number six singles flight, capping Wingate’s rally from a 3-1 deficit. Bulldog freshman Kennedy Cancelado (Miami Springs, Fla.) and junior Ryan Forbes (Charlotte, N.C.) helped seal the deal with two victories each.
 
Forbes cut the WU deficit to 3-2 with his 6-2, 6-3 triumph over TC junior John Taylor (Crossville, Tenn.) at the number five singles position. Bulldog freshman Sebastian Hall (Lörrach, Germany) knotted the match 3-3 with his 6-4, 6-0 victory over Pioneer freshman Jonas Winkelmann (Boeblingen, Germany) in the number three singles match.
 
Cancelado gave Wingate a brief 4-3 advantage when he defeated TC sophomore Lukas Winkelmann (Boeblingen, Germany) 6-4, 6-2 at the number one singles spot, avenging a regular season setback to the reigning SAC Player of the Year. Pioneer sophomore Paul Wiederspahn (Wuppertal, Germany) tied the score 4-4 with his 6-2, 7-6 (3) win over Bulldog freshman Roberto Hennis (Raleigh, N.C.).
 
In doubles, Cancelado and Forbes started the day with an 8-6 number two doubles victory over Taylor and freshman Nicolas Planchard (Frisange, Luxembourg). Tusculum won the other two doubles match-ups, with the Winkelmann brothers taking a hard-fought 9-7 decision over Hennis and sophomore Neal Towlson (Warwick, Bermuda) at the number one flight to give the Pioneers a 2-1 edge entering singles.
 
Eardley’s straight sets victory insured the defending Food Lion SAC tournament titlists a spot in the Championship Saturday festivities. Wingate has played in three consecutive SAC tourney championship matches. The number three seed Bulldogs will face number four seed Lincoln Memorial (13-5 overall) at 9 a.m. Saturday morning. LMU edged number one seed Anderson (S.C.) 5-3 in Friday’s other semi-final.