Nashville, Tenn. - The Georgia State men's tennis team defeated Lipscomb, 6-1, at the Richland Country Club in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday evening. Junior Juan Pablo Gutierrez clinched the match with a three-set victory at No. 4 singles.

Georgia State (1-2) began the match by sweeping the doubles flights. Thomas Cook/Vincent Verpeaux defeated Tanner Brown/Colby Shaw, 8-2, at No. 2 doubles. Juan Pablo Gutierrez/Lucas Santana won at No. 3 doubles, 8-4, to clinch the doubles point for the Panthers.

In the final doubles match, Victor Valente/Breon Badger played a tiebreaker against Oliver Strecker/Joe McArdle, winning, 8-7 (7-4). The Panthers took an early 1-0 lead in the match.

Georgia State quickly extended its lead to 2-0 when freshman Breon Badger won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0, over Joe McArdle at the No. 2 singles flight. Badger turned the match in his favor by winning the final two games in the first set.

Freshman Thomas Cook, playing in his first singles match of the season, defeated Mario Hernandez, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 3 singles. Cook gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead with three singles matches left.

Lipscomb cut the lead when Oliver Strecker defeated Victor Valente, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3), at No. 1 singles. Valente battled in the second set, before losing in the tiebreaker, 7-3.

Gutierrez earned the fourth and clinching point after winning the third set for a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over David Salazar at No. 4 singles.

Freshman Vincent Verpeaux won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, at No. 5 singles. Sophomore Lucas Santana finished the match with a straight-sets win, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) at No. 6. 

"It is nice to get our first victory of the season," said head coach Chase Hodges. "Our guys played great doubles, which set the tone for the rest of the match.  The addition of Thomas Cook to our lineup tonight makes us a much more complete squad.  We are happy to have him back."

Georgia State returns to action on Sunday as they head to Clarksville, Tenn. to take on Austin Peay at 2 p.m.