The No. 11 University of Redlands men's tennis battled it out with fifth-ranked Bowdoin College (ME) on Wednesday but suffered a tight 4-5 loss on Verdieck Courts in non-conference action. After the Bulldogs gained an early 3-1 advantage, the Polar Bears stormed back to win the next four singles matches en route to the 5-4 decision.
The No. 2 doubles duo of sophomore Nick Cummins (Rancho Mirage, CA) and senior Connor Hyde (Peterborough, NH) captured the Maroon and Gray's first win of the day, prevailing by a score of 8-2.
However, Bowdoin answered back with an 8-2 effort of its own at the No. 3 slot.
Competing for the first lead of the match, Redlands' top tandem of sophomores Patrick Lipscomb (Irvine, CA) and Gram Leahy (Portland, OR) edged the competition in a 9-7 tally.
In singles, Lipscomb kept things rolling for the Bulldogs, dismissing his No. 1 opponent by scores of 6-2, 6-2.
Up by a 3-1 margin, Redlands needed just two more singles matches to secure the overall triumph.
However, the Polar Bears had other plans, as they fired off victories at Nos. 2, 3, 5, and 6, resulting in the 5-4 decision.
Sophomore Taylor Hunt (Seattle, WA) registered the Bulldogs' fourth point with his 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-1 performance at the No. 4 spot.
Redlands (7-5) returns to Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) competition on Friday when it travels to the Anaheim Hills Tennis Center to face Chapman University in a 2 p.m. bout.
