The eighth-ranked University of Redlands men's tennis team battled it out with No. 13 Williams College (MA) on Saturday morning in a non-conference tilt that always comes down to the wire. After earning a 2-1 lead in doubles, the Bulldogs went ahead by a 4-3 count but ultimately lost to the Ephs in a 4-5 decision.
The No. 2 tandem of sophomore Chase Lipscomb (Irvine, CA) and freshman Brad Cummins (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) put Redlands on the board with an 8-5 win, while seniors Parker Wilson (Carlsbad, CA) and Tom Suchodolski (Amherst, MA) extended the home team's lead to 2-0 with an 8-4 victory at No. 3.
Although Williams snagged a tight 8-6 triumph at No. 1, Redlands looked to build on its lead as the teams headed into singles action.
But the Ephs quickly went ahead by a score of 3-2 with positive results at Nos. 2 and 6 for their first lead of the match.
Nonetheless, Suchodolski took care of business at No. 5 with his 6-4, 6-4 result, while Lipscomb put Redlands back on top with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 comeback victory at No. 1.
Holding a 4-3 advantage, the Bulldogs needed just one of the two remaining matches to secure the win. Unfortunately for the Maroon and Gray, both three-setters went the Ephs' way, resulting in a tough 4-5 loss.
Redlands (10-4) looks forward to hosting UC Santa Cruz in an important in-region showdown on Verdieck Courts on Wed., March 29, at 3 p.m.
