Men's Tennis Edged by Suffolk, 5-4

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men's tennis team dropped a tough 5-4 decision to visiting Suffolk University on Thursday afternoon at the Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts.

The visiting Rams, who snapped a four-match losing streak versus the Bears, improve to 1-2 on the season. Bridgewater falls to 0-2 with the setback.

Suffolk went 1-2 in doubles play but rallied with four wins in singles competition to take the match.

Freshman Mehdi Mered (Algeria) and senior Diego Hernandez-Pons (Mexico City, Mexico) teamed up for an 8-3 win at second doubles. Mered also recorded a 6-2, 6-3 straight set victory at first singles, while Hernandez-Pons won in straight sets at fourth singles, 6-3, 6-4.

The Rams also received singles wins from freshman Daniel Dayn (Natick, Mass.) at the second flight and junior Mikhail Reilly (Dubai) at number five. Day rallied from a set down to post a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory, while Reilly won in three sets, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.

The Bears' top-flight tandem of seniors Kendan Ziegler (Hadley, N.Y.) and Charles Fiske (Taunton, Mass.) paired up for an 8-4 triumph in doubles competition. Sophomores Matthew Krampf (Littleton, Mass.) and Charles Malinowski (East Bridgewater, Mass.) earned an 8-5 decision at the third doubles spot.

BSU freshman Tyler Barros (Somerset, Mass.) coasted to a 6-0, 6-0 straight set win at number six singles, and classmate Adam Beatrice (Rockland, Mass.) cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 straight set victory at the third flight to give the hosts a 4-1 lead. The Bears, however, were unable to secure the decisive fifth point.

Beatrice recorded his first collegiate singles victory, while Krampf and Malinowski earned their first collegiate wins in doubles play.

The Bears travel to Clark University on Monday for a four o'clock match with the Cougars.