LAKELAND, Fla. - The Eckerd men's tennis team fell to Bentley (Mass.) 5-2 in Lakeland on Friday afternoon.
The Tritons (5-6) fell to the Falcons (5-7) after dropping the doubles point in a heartbreaker, and taking two of six singles matches.
Batu Ataseven and Christian Kearns picked up their eighth doubles win of the season in the top pairing. With the doubles point sitting at 1-1, it was decided in the No. 3 position. Eric Asakura and Phil Grueninger dropped a heartbreaker in tiebreak, falling 7-6 (7-3) for the Falcons to secure the doubles point.
Ataseven made quick work of the Falcons' top singles, Max Bonte, only dropping one set to win 6-1, 6-0. Marshall Hulett picked up the other Triton point, taking the No. 5 position in three sets. After taking set one 6-3, he fell behind in set two 4-6. Hulett battled back to take the match in set three by a score of 6-4.
Kearns and Grueninger battled hard in their respective positions, each falling in three sets. Grueninger answered back from a 6-4 loss in set one, with a 6-3 set two victory to force a third set. He ultimately fell 6-4 in set three. Kearns had the early advantage, with a 6-2 first set victory in the No. 3 spot. He dropped the match 6-3, 6-3 in straight sets.
Eckerd returns home tomorrow for their Teal Out against the College of St. Scholastica at 1:00 PM at the Fred Bullard Courts.
Singles competition
1. Batu Ataseven (ECM) def. Max Bonte (BEN) 6-1, 6-0
2. Gabe Horwitz (BEN) def. Mario Kirkov (ECM) 6-1, 6-2
3. Nikolai Pran (BEN) def. Christian Kearns (ECM) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. Ansh Chadha (BEN) def. Eric Asakura (ECM) 7-5, 7-5
5. Marshall Hulett (ECM) def. Liam Marr (BEN) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
6. Reilly O'Brien (BEN) def. Phil Grueninger (ECM) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Batu Ataseven/Christian Kearns (ECM) def. Max Bonte/Christian Duffy (BEN) 6-3
2. Gabe Horwitz/Nikolai Pran (BEN) def. Mario Kirkov/Marshall Hulett (ECM) 6-4
3. Ansh Chadha/Diego Ramos (BEN) def. Phil Grueninger/Eric Asakura (ECM) 7-6 (7-3)
