It took Ball State four Big Ten Schools to finally score a victory, but the Cardinals were finally able to put three singles wins together and took the 4-3 win over Wisconsin.
"It was a match we felt we had to win," coach Bill Richards said. "Given where we were in our schedule and our record so far, we felt it was kind of a must win situation.
"I think it was a good win, didn't play as well as we were capable of, but I'm not complaining. It's good to get the W and move on."
Ball State (3-3) began by winning the doubles point, which they have done all season. The No. 56 tandem of Matt Baccarani and Patrick Thompson scored their fifth straight win when they took down Alex and Lachezar Kasarov 8-5.
Tony Epkey and Brad Rhodes won their second straight with an 8-5 win over Mark Weinig and Jordan Raemisch. Klint Knable and Paul Newman completed the sweep in doubles with a 9-8 (5) over Elliott Bisnow and Jeremy Sonkin.
"It was a match where we could have played a little better we could have won 6-1 or 7-0," Richards said. "And a match where, if we played a little worse, we could have lost."
In singles the Cardinals were less than successful, but managed to get into every point. Epkey came away with the largest win, a 6-4, 6-4 win over Lachezar Kasarov. Newman scored a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 win over Bisnow and Knable wrapped up the win with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Brian Ko.
Baccarani fell to Alex Kasarov 6-4, 7-6 (3) in the top singles spot, while Matt Laramore fell to Sonkin 7-6, 6-7, 6-4. Patrick Thompson also fell 7-6 (4), 6-4.
"We have some other guys have to step it up," Richards said. "Baccarani and Thompson are lighting it up in doubles, but they need to win some singles matches. It's frustrating; those guys are working on getting over the hump. We need to get out of them in singles what we're getting in doubles."
The win was much like Ball State's recent history with Wisconsin.
"In the last 10 years, only one match hasn't been a 4-3," Richards said. "The match went as I expected. I was hoping for a little more and hoping to make a little more of a statement, but again, I'm not complaining about a win."
The Cardinals hosts the seasons second double-header of the season this Friday against Indiana State and Eastern Kentucky.
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