LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Harding sophomore Henrique Ruiz won a third set tie-breaker at No. 1 singles to give the Bisons a 4-3 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Wednesday at Burns Park.

With the match tied at 3-3, Ruiz won 7-5 in the tie-breaker to defeat Hugo Gomez.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-1) had only five players and had to forfeit No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles. With the doubles forfeit, Harding (2-0) needed to win only one match to pick up the doubles point. The Bisons No. 2 team of freshman Adam Edwards and junior Chris Beach won 8-6 over Andrew Rio Burno and Bruno Hurtado.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff won doubles matches at No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 to take a 3-2 lead in the match. Harding answered with a victory by freshman Helio Hashimoto at No. 5 and clinched the match with Ruiz's win at No. 1.

Harding is back in action Thursday at Hendrix.

Tennis Match Results
Harding vs Ark.-Pine Bluff
Oct 07, 2009 at Little Rock, Ark.
(Burns Park)

Harding 4, Ark.-Pine Bluff 3

 Singles competition
1. Henrique Ruiz (HU) def. Hugo Gomez (UAPB) 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
2. Bruno Hurtado (UAPB) def. Chris Beach (HU) 5-7, 7-5, 6-4
3. Andres Rio Burno (UAPB) def. Adam Edwards (HU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
4. Eduardo Luque (UAPB) def. Ivan Michelli (HU) 6-1, 6-3
5. Helio Hashimoto (HU) def. Jorge Villacis (UAPB) 6-2, 6-4
6. Aldo Campos (HU) def. No player (UAPB), by default

 Doubles competition
1. Hugo Gomez/Eduardo Luque (UAPB) def. Henrique Ruiz/Corey Stumne (HU) 8-1
2. Adam Edwards/Chris Beach (HU) def. Andres Rio Burno/Bruno Hurtado (UAPB) 8-6
3. Helio Hashimoto/Ivan Michelli (HU) def. No player/No player (UAPB), by default

Match Notes:
Harding 2-0
Ark.-Pine Bluff 0-1