WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The Midwestern State Mustangs picked up a big Lone Star Conference victory Thursday afternoon, beating Incarnate Word 6-3.

The No. 31 Mustangs (12-3, 3-1) improved to 6-1 at the MSU Tennis Center in their final regular season match of the year. The No. 33 Cardinals (6-8, 1-2) suffered their second conference loss of the season.

The Mustangs opened up taking two of the three doubles points, both with 9-7 wins. Vjekoslav Stipanic and Luke Joyce picked up their 12th win of the year with a triumph over Leury Arias and Chris Lawson at No.1, while Mario Urban and Rory de Boer got their second win together at No. 3 against Carlos Olvera and Aiden DeLeon.

Then the Mustangs put it away by claiming the middle singles play.

Seniors Stipanic and Bo Zaputovic didn't take long to win at Nos. 2 and 4. Stipanic handed Lawson a 6-2, 6-2 beating, while Zaputovic beat David Ballenger 6-4, 6-3.

The match was decided when Joyce beat Olvera at No. 3 in three sets 2-6, 6-3, 6-1. The Mustangs added insurance as senior Tiago Vilahrino beat Nicholas Mikulcic 6-2, 3-6, 10-8.

"We had a solid match against a conference competitor," said MSU Coach Scott Linn. "We've got to defend our home court against a team like UIW and I'm proud they stepped up to the challenge."

MSU visits Oklahoma Christian in non-conference play at 2 p.m. on Friday but is looking toward a match next Tuesday against Cameron to wrap up LSC action.