WACO, Texas - WACO, Texas- The 15th-ranked Baylor Bears opened Big 12 Conference play with a 6-1 victory over 20th-ranked Texas A&M at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center at College Station on Wednesday evening.

The victory raised Baylor's record to 15-7 while the Aggies dropped to 10-8 and 1-3 in league play.

Senior Lars Poerschke, returning to action after missing eight of the Bears last nine matches due to injury, clinched the match for Baylor. The two-time All-American, currently ranked No. 20, lost the first set to 15th-ranked Conor Pollock at No. 1, 4-6, but roared back to take the next two sets, 6-1, 6-2. With the victory, Poerschke raised his career Big 12 regular season singles record to 20-1. In fact, Poerschke's lone Big 12 loss came last season to Pollock.

The Aggies got on the scoreboard first with a sweep of the doubles matches. The first tandem to finish was Mike Beatty and Wil Spencer with an 8-4 victory over Poerschke and Attila Bucko. Pollock and Austin Krajicek, ranked No. 48, upset Baylor's 44th-ranked duo of David Galic and Denes Lukacs, 8-6. Matt Bain and Chris Chirico completed the sweep with an 8-7 (6) victory over Dominik Mueller and Jordan Rux.

After the Aggie doubles sweep, the Bears countered with a sweep of their own, taking all six singles matches. Mueller and Bucko made quick work of their opponents with two-set victories at courts four and six, respectively. Mueller, ranked No. 101 downed Chirico, 6-0, 6-1 while Bucko triumphed over Kayvon Karimi, 6-2, 6-1. Next off the court for the Bears was 10th-ranked Lukacs with a 6-4, 6-3 win over No. 90 Spencer. After Poerschke posted his match-clinching victory, Gwen Corches registered a 6-4, 7-6 (4) win over Bain at No. 5. Despite losing the first set, Galic ensured the Baylor sweep with a three-set win at No. 3 over Krajicek, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7).

The Bears will face another stiff test on Wednesday, April 9 when they host the University of Texas at 6 p.m. at the Baylor Tennis Center.

#15 Baylor 6, #20 Texas A&M 1

George P. Mitchell Tennis Center - College Station, Texas

Singles

Order of finish: 4, 6, 2, 1*, 5, 3

1. #20 Lars Poerschke (BU) def. #15 Conor Pollock (TAMU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2

2. #10 Denes Lukacs (BU) def. #90 Wil Spencer (TAMU) 6-4, 6-3

3. #104 David Galic (BU) def. Austin Krajicek (TAMU) 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7)

4. #101 Dominik Mueller (BU) def. Chris Chirco (TAMU) 6-0, 6-1

5. #101 Gwen Corches (BU) def. Matt Bain (TAMU) 6-4, 7-6 (4)

6. Attila Bucko (BU) def. Kayvon Karimi (TAMU) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles

Order of finish: 2, 1, 3

1. #48 Conor Pollock/Austin Krajicek (TAMU) def. #44 David Galic/Denes Lukacs (BU) 8-6

2. Mike Beatty/Wil Spencer (TAMU) def. Lars Poerschke/Attila Bucko (BU) 8-4

3. Dominik Mueller/Jordan Rux (BU) vs. Chris Chirco/Matt Bain (TAMU) 8-7 (5)

* clinched match