LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The 17th-ranked Midwestern State Mustang took an early lead on second-ranked Armstrong Atlantic before the Pirates answered with five straight wins to claim a narrow 5-4 victory at the Darling Tennis Center.
 
The rematch of last season's Elite Eight contest left Midwestern at 7-5 on the season, while Armstrong moved to 9-4.
 
The highlight for the Mustangs was the play at No. 1 singles, where 46th ranked Kacper Boborykin upset the Pirates ninth-ranked Pedro Scocuglia 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
 
Midwestern grabbed the lead by winning two doubles points as Tomas Grejtak/Ramon Toyos claimed No. 1 with an 8-6 triumph over Pablo Gor/Jaaan Kononov, and MSU's Jarrod Liston/Zack Santagate picked up an 8-3 win over Luca Cerin/Scocuglia at No. 3.
 
But AASU picked up the last doubles point with Ignacio Hernandez/Damian Okrutny beating Boborykin/Kyle Davidson 8-6 at No. 2.
 
The Pirates roared back with wins in the first four singles positions finished.
 
Okrutny first took down Grejtak 7-5, 6-2 at No. 6, with 10th ranked Pablo Gor getting by 27th ranked Davidson 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 at No. 2 and No. 39 Kononov beating Toyos 6-4, 6-2 at No. 3.
 
The Mustangs Christopher Norrie, playing at No. 4, gave 20th ranked Hernandez a run, but dropped a heartbreaking 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 decision to the Pirate.
 
MSU's Liston went extra to win his point at No. 5 with a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4) victory over Cerin that followed Boborykin's win.
 
The Mustangs return to play next Wednesday when they host Southwest Baptist at the MSU Tennis Center.