ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Gardner-Webb dropped a nonconference road match at South Carolina State on Tuesday afternoon on a 5-2 decision.
 
"We killed them in doubles to get the quick opening point, but give them credit, they were better than us today in singles to get the win," said Head Coach Mike Griffith.
 
Eduardo Dias and Numa Lemieux-Monette claimed a quick 6-1 win on the #3 court followed by Sebastian Harris and Connor Enslin winning by the same score at #2 to clinch the doubles point. Chrisjan Van Wyk and Victor Putter had their match go unfinished with them leading 5-2 in the topflight.
 
S.C. State got two quick straight-set victories in the top two singles matches to take the lead in the match at 2-1. Ivan Pauluychenko defeated Alex Lepine at #5, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 for their third point of the day.
 
The winning point was clinched by Diego Araluz with his win in position 4. Van Wyk had the lone singles win for the Runnin' Bulldogs from court 3 as he had a 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-4 decision. The day ended with Enslin losing on court 6 in three sets.
 
The next match for Gardner-Webb will be Friday, March 4 at 2:30 hosting Presbyterian in a key Big South matchup.